Author's Note: …wow…that was…a really long time between updates. I really apologize for that. Given the whirlwind of school, work, play and M*A*S*H that make up life, this story was kind of lost in the shuffle.
But, I'm back now, not entirely sure if I'll be back next week, but I assure you I will eventually get to the end of this story (I'm hoping and planning for seventeen chapters). Then I'll probably be taking another break before I start posting the third book in the series.
Anyway, thank you for your patience and any reviews.
Chapter Five – Research:
On Friday, Astoria was more than glad to see the end of the first school week. School seemed much harder than she remembered since first-year, but perhaps that was only because she wasn't used to it yet after holiday.
Even so, she was relieved when the last bell rang and she shut her Transfiguration book. Professor McGonagall released them, warning them to get their homework done over the weekend, and Astoria headed toward the Great Hall with Sara and Melissa.
"The first week back always feels the longest," said Sara sagely. "I'm so happy it's the weekend."
"But we've got so much homework," Melissa groaned. "A foot-and-a-half from Sprout, two feet from McGonagall, we have got to practice the Engorgement Charm for Flitwick –"
"Don't worry so much, Melissa," said Sara. "We'll get it done."
"And we've got that essay for Professor Snape to finish –"
Ahead of them in the entrance hall, Astoria could see the start of the queue for dinner. Bobbing between the students was a girl with bushy, brown hair. She approached Astoria's group. Astoria was shocked and taken aback, because surely this was that Muggle-born friend of Harry Potter's – whatever her name was – and what was she doing about to talk to Astoria….
"Hello, I'm Hermione Granger," said the girl, clearly and business-like, sounding as if she was about to launch into a prepared speech.
Sara blinked, evidently just as surprised as Astoria was. "Oh, hello, I'm Sara Hibburt, this is Melissa –"
"I'm president and founder of the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare," here the girl brandished a little cardboard box she was holding; whatever was inside rattled. "Tell me, do you know who cooks your food? Do you know who keeps the castle tidy? Who keeps the fires burning in your common rooms and cleans the sheets on your beds?"
"I…don't know," said Sara. "I always assumed it was done magically…."
"Well," Hermione Granger continued as though she had not been interrupted. "I am here to inform you that it is, in fact, hoards of enslaved, overworked, underdressed house-elves that keep you warm and well-fed at Hogwarts. Elf enslavement goes back for centuries; the earliest case was in 1297, when Selene Soronac hired hit-men to kidnap some fifteen house-elves and then forced them to work as maids, cooks, and gardeners on her island retreat in the Mediterranean – under threat of imprisonment or death. Since then, enslaving house-elves has become a sign of wealth and prestige among wizard-kind. Thousands of house-elves have died while in forced servitude of their wizard masters, they or their children never tasting even the hope of freedom. I am here to tell you that this shameful, atrocious, and demeaning treatment of our fellow magical beings must be stopped. Our short-term aims are to secure house-elves fair wages and working conditions. Our long-term aims include changing the law denying house-elves the use of a wand, and securing a position for an elf in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Indoctrination in the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare costs only two sickles, and includes a badge signifying your whole-hearted agreement toward out cause" (she rattled the box again) "and full membership benefits, which include access to our meetings – every Wednesday in the Library at five o'clock – and democrat privileges to vote in our officers, perhaps even the opportunity to become an officer, yourself, if you should so be nominated."
Hermione Granger stopped and beamed, taking off the lid of the box and revealing a collection of different colored badges, each emblazoned with the word S.P.E.W.
Astoria stared at her. She discovered her mouth had slipped open and she hastily shut it. She tried to sort through and discover the important parts in the prattle.
"What does S.P.E.W. stand for?" said Sara, breaking the silence.
Clearly that had not been what Hermione Granger had been expecting nor would have like to hear. She frowned. "Well, I've just told you, haven't I? It is the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare. We stand for the liberation and full emancipation of house-elves under wizard law. And it isn't spew."
Astoria discovered she was frowning. The Greengrass's had kept a house-elf for as long as Astoria could remember. Her name was Brownie and she did the cooking, cleaning, and gardening – but of course she was not enslaved. Just because the Astoria's mother didn't pay the house-elf, didn't mean she was enslaved. Besides, Astoria had never heard Brownie complain.
"So," said Sara, "it's house-elves who do the cooking and cleaning around Hogwarts?" Astoria recognized that mingled look of curiosity and innocence on Sara's face, and felt her shoulders slump. Being Muggle-born, Sara very often believed everything she heard from other wizards, even if what she heard was misconceptions or exaggerations.
Hermione Granger nodded vigorously. "They live in the kitchens, work through the night, are not recognized for their work, and are forbidden to wear clothes –"
"That's terrible," said Sara, face blanching in disbelief. "And Headmaster Dumbledore allows it?"
Hermione Granger nodded tersely, eyebrows furrowing. "I'm afraid so. And if you find these facts to be as troubling as I do, I implore you: these atrocities must come to an end! Can I interest you in a badge – only two sickles and receive full membership benefits –"
Sara looked to Astoria, and must have been stopped by something she saw in her face, for her smile disappeared. She turned back to Granger and said uncertainly, "I don't know…."
Granger looked slightly let-down at the prospect of losing a promising client. "Please," she said with renewed ferocity, rattling the box of pins beneath Sara's nose, "surely you do not condone this inhumane treatment of house-elves?"
"Well, no," said Sara, glancing again toward Astoria, "But, well, I don't know."
"What about you?" said Granger, turning to Melissa, who cowered. "Do you care about the shameless degradation of our fellow magical beings?"
"Well I –" stammered Melissa. "Of course I –"
"Then I implore you!" said Granger. "Is not two sickles worth it to help better the lives of house-elves?" She turned to stare at Astoria, shaking the box of badges. Astoria unconsciously took a step backward.
"I – er," but was not completely sure of what she was supposed to say.
She knew Daphne wouldn't like it. In fact, Astoria, herself, didn't like it. House-elves didn't need to be freed. They probably didn't want to be freed. Everyone would laugh at her if they knew Astoria had joined such an organization. "I don't have any money on me…."
"Well," said Granger, smile quickly and alarmingly fixed back on her face, "I can put you down on my list for promising payment –"
"No," said Astoria quickly. "Don't do that."
Granger frowned.
Sara piped up, "Aren't you Harry Potter's friend?"
Granger turned back to Sara, smile flickering. "Yes, but that doesn't really have anything to do –"
"Is that cool?" said Sara enthusiastically, "I mean, being the friend of the Boy Who Lived? That must be so cool – absolutely brilliant –"
"Wait," said Astoria. "Do you mean that Harry Potter approves of this organization?"
"He is secretary…" said Granger.
"Do you mean we might get to meet him if we came to meetings?" said Sara, eyes popping.
"Yes, but," Granger seemed to be getting impatient, "that's completely beside the point. S.P.E.W. is about the bettering of the lives of house-elves for the house-elves' sake, simply because we as human beings should strive for the betterment and inclusion of all magical beings and creatures. Whether or not Harry would be at meetings shouldn't matter –"
But it did matter. In fact, should Daphne realize that Harry Potter approved of Spew, she would perhaps be even more adamant against Astoria joining.
Not that Astoria had even considered joining, of course.
"Erm – no, sorry," said Astoria, grabbing Sara's arm. "I don't think we're interested."
Granger's face fell but she still looked determined. Astoria wondered if she, Sara, and Melissa were the first students Granger had managed make listen to her for more than a few minutes.
"Yeah, sorry," echoed Sara, allowing Astoria to pull her away. Melissa hastened to catch them up, latching onto Sara's other arm.
Granger called after them, "How would you like it if it was you who were enslaved and someone who could do something about it decided not to?" but her voice was lost amongst the chatter of the students coming to dinner.
Sara looked troubled.
"Do you think that's true?" she said, "What she said about Headmaster Dumbledore allowing house-elves to clean up after us and not paying them?"
Astoria shrugged. She had heard worse things about Dumbledore. Besides, it wasn't as though keeping house-elves was unethical. Someone had to do the cooking and cleaning.
"Don't worry about it," said Melissa softly.
"Are house-elves really treated as slaves?" said Sara. "I mean – that's terrible. Maybe I should join…."
"Don't waste your money," said Astoria firmly.
"Well, if you're sure," said Sara.
Mercifully, she dropped it. Astoria had been afraid this might be one of those topics that she and Sara might disagree on – like about werewolves from last year, or, more recently, the way Draco Malfoy had been treated by Professor Moody.
Astoria looked to the staff table as she, Sara, and Melissa took their seats at Ravenclaw table. Professor Moody was nowhere to be seen. Astoria rarely saw him around the castle, which she was glad of. Still, she occasionally imagined the unsettling feeling of his magical eye on her back, but she was beginning to believe that those were just nerves.
Perhaps he was not out to get her, as she had first been afraid of.
In fact, thinking like that now seemed slightly childish and melodramatic. Surely there would be no more trouble from Professor Moody. Still, Astoria couldn't hide the fact that she was still slightly anxious about the next time she would be in his class. She wondered if he might ask her anything else about her father.
She wondered if she might find anything else out about their past relationship.
She was afraid Professor Moody might let slip in class that Hyperion Meliflua had been a Death Eater. Because she had come to the decision – although of course she didn't care if they did – that, really, her classmates didn't have any business knowing who her father was or what he had been.
It was her secret to keep as she so pleased. And Professor Moody hadn't any right spilling it before the whole class.
After dinner, Sara led them back out of the Great Hall. Astoria turned when she heard her named called. She caught sight of Daphne rushing from the Slytherin table and toward Astoria.
"You guys go on," said Astoria – always slightly anxious about meeting her sister with Sara and Melissa. "I'll be right up."
Daphne met Astoria in the entrance hall and pulled her briefly away from the crowd. Astoria realized her heartbeat had accelerated. She wondered what Daphne had to say, and whether or not anything else had happened involving Moody.
But Daphne's face looked quite calm, if not slightly embarrassed. "What are you doing tomorrow?"
"I – er – nothing, I don't think."
"Good," said Daphne. "Will you meet in the library after breakfast?"
"What for?" said Astoria.
"You'll find out when you get there," said Daphne. "Anyway, will you come?"
Wondering at the formalities – because surely Daphne could have just casually asked Astoria tomorrow – but also wondering that Daphne wanted to spend a Saturday, or at least part of a Saturday, with Astoria instead of her friends, Astoria readily obliged.
"Good," said Daphne. "See you tomorrow." And she rushed away, back toward the Slytherin table.
Astoria stood in the corner for a moment, trying to think what Daphne might want to do, and trying to convince herself that it didn't have anything else to do with Professor Moody. She noticed that Hermione Granger was still dashing about the entrance hall, now stopping students on their way back to their common rooms. She seemed to be impeding primarily younger students, around Astoria's age – perhaps she thought they would be easier to convince.
Astoria sighed and kicked herself into motion. She trotted most of the way back up to Ravenclaw Tower, wanting to catch up to Sara and Melissa. She found them in the common room, huddled in a corner with Mark and Stephan and playing Exploding Snap.
Astoria figured that she would not be welcome, and rather than try to include herself and create a scene, she climbed up to the second-year dormitory and shut herself in her bed. Maybe she could catch up on some reading – or try to puzzle out what Daphne might want to talk about.
At least attempt to keep her thoughts from again and again straying to Professor Moody and Hyperion Meliflua.
Astoria arrived in the library earlier than Daphne had directed, skipping breakfast altogether in favor of discovering what her sister had to talk about. As such, Daphne had not yet arrived and Astoria had to wait. The library was entirely empty – save the foreboding Madame Pince on her never ending bout against dust and fingerprints – and Astoria took a table by a window, those that were usually taken by students higher up in the pecking order.
Sunlight streamed through the panes. It was a beautiful day. When she had told Sara and Melissa that she would be occupied this morning, the girls had said they would be spending it outside with Mark and Stephen. This made Astoria feel…oddly resentful that Daphne had asked her to meet.
But it wasn't as though Astoria would be wanted, anyway, if Stephan were to be there.
But, if Astoria had been going then Stephan would have stayed away.
Astoria sighed and looked up just as Daphne came in. She was on her own and seemed to have just finished swallowing her last bit of toast. It gave Astoria a vague sense of camaraderie to know Daphne had also appeared to have rushed to the library.
"Good, you're here," said Daphne when she reached Astoria's table.
As if she'd been afraid Astoria wouldn't be. Daphne did not sit down.
"So," said Astoria, "what did you want me for?"
Daphne continued to stand. She didn't seem able to decide what to do with her hands. She kept twisting them in front of her or twiddling with her robes or sticking them in her pockets. Astoria didn't know quite what to make of her sister. She had seen Daphne uneasy before, but never to this degree of nervousness.
"Well I –" Daphne began, and paused to warn, "This sounds silly, Tori, and you don't have to do it if you don't want to – but I, well, I've been thinking lately and…."
"And?" prompted Astoria before she could stop herself.
Daphne frowned, "Well, I've been wondering. I mean, about Dad."
Astoria hadn't been expecting that – or perhaps she had been – dreading it rather. She wasn't entirely sure if she wanted to be doing any more wondering about her father.
"And I've been wondering if perhaps you and I might want to…I don't know…try to find out some information about him –"
"How?" said Astoria.
"Well, certainly not be asking Mum," said Daphne flatly. "I thought maybe we could," she waved her hands around to indicate the library, "try to look for information in here. They have old Prophets archived, and plenty of school records…. I mean, haven't you ever thought about him, Tori? Haven't you ever wanted to know about who he was and what he did?"
Daphne's eyes were gleaming. She seemed to have forgotten or bypassed her discomfort. Astoria had not seen this part of her sister often, passionate and contemplative, wholly human. Her sister was almost alien to her.
"Well, I suppose," said Astoria. She didn't entirely know how she was supposed to answer. She didn't entirely know what she wanted, or wondered, or wished to find out. But she had rarely seen Daphne with so much yearning. She felt if she said no that she would surely be letting her sister down.
Daphne smiled. "Great – we could start today and then meet most weekends for a couple of hours, just to see what we could find…."
"We'll start today?" said Astoria, hesitantly rising from her table because Daphne was walking toward the section of the library where old newspapers and magazines were collected.
"Of course," said Daphne, shooting a look over her shoulder. "Why else do you think I wanted you to meet me here?"
And so they set to work. Daphne told Astoria to look for any newspapers with a date before 1981, during the war where news of their father might crop up in articles about Death Eaters. Privately, Astoria believed it was a rather morbid assumption but Daphne appeared to be quite enthusiastic about it.
Soon enough they had newspapers scattered all over the aisle floor. Madame Pince kept peaking between the shelves to try to discern what they were doing, because surely two girls sitting in an otherwise empty library – on a Saturday – when they might be outside or with friends were obviously up to something devious.
It might have been an hour – Astoria neck had long-time been cricked from flipping so many pages – before Daphne finally said, "Here, listen to this, Tori:
"Wizengamot official and Undersecretary to Senior Undersecretary to the Minister, Sir Orpheus Greengrass today announced his daughter's, newly-graduated from Hogwarts Lyra Greengrass, engagement to Hyperion Meliflua, son of longstanding legislative figures and philanthropists Amyntor and Gaia Meliflua. Their wedding is dated for late May, 1977."
"Is that –" but of course Astoria already knew the section was talking about her parents. There were few others named Lyra Greengrass and Hyperion Meliflua.
"I found it in the Personality section. Look," said Daphne, flipping the page so Astoria could see, "there's a picture and everything."
Astoria stared at the moving picture of her mother, young and pretty, waving at the camera. Around her waist was the arm of the man at her side. Astoria had seen pictures of her father before. Her mother had several albums hidden on the top shelf of her wardrobe – which Astoria was not entirely sure if she knew Astoria and Daphne had gotten into when they were younger –but she was not sure she had ever seen him looking quite so…youthful before.
He was beaming at the camera, and kept trying to kiss their mother's cheek – whom skirted him with a significant look Astoria knew well from reprimands. Astoria wondered if the black and white ink had something to do with the starkness of the couple, the clear-cut lines and smoothness of their angles.
They looked very happy together. Astoria smiled slightly.
Daphne folded the newspaper and put it to the side, separate from the other piles. Astoria wondered if perhaps her sister was planning on keeping it.
They both went on with their searching without another word.
Being a Ravenclaw, Astoria had a bad habit of not being able to stop herself from reading. It didn't matter the subject matter, she simply read. It was that reason why she kept being distracted from the task at hand and began pursuing other articles that had nothing to do with her father. She would be led on winding trails about robberies and murders that had happened over a decade and half ago, before she remembered she was searching for news of her father and would tear herself away.
Juno Vance, mother of three and husband to Marcus Vance, was reported missing today to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Reportedly, Vance left her residence in Burnkenstor on Saturday, June 5th, for an early morning walk. A practice, we are told by neighbor to the Vances Withandra Whittaker, that was quite regular.
However, this time Vance did not return. Her husband reported Vance missing late afternoon of the same day, however, the DMLE could not report Vance officially missing until a twenty-four hour period had lapsed.
The DMLE has no leads at this time. When asked by the Daily Prophet about her sister-in-law's disappearance, Magical Transportaion director Emmeline Vance had no other comment other than, "We'll get the […] who did it." Which prompted the question of whether or not Vance believed Juno Vance's disappearance was deliberately done by some sinister force. Vance replied, "Of course it's sinister, you morons. Now, get out of my way. I have better things to do than talk to reporters.
(cont. p 6b)
"Astoria," said Daphne again. Astoria looked up, shocked to find she had once again been lost in an insignificant article despite her resolve not to. She wondered if Daphne was going to chide her.
But Daphne was again pointing to something on a page, her fingernail brushing a picture of a night sky. Astoria felt her stomach twist; hanging in the sky, sparkling and twisting like some perverted formation of stars, was the Dark Mark. It was colored in black and white in the picture but Astoria knew, had the paper been in color, the Mark would have been glowing green.
"Early this morning," Daphne read, "Muggle neighbors to James Higglebee were rudely awakened by this curious sign shining in the air above Higglebee's house. A Magical Law Enforcement Squad was summoned to the scene, as well as several Obliviators. Muggle interference and the Statute of Secrecy were taken care of by the Obliviators while the MLE Squad entered Higglebee's house, where they found him lying dead on his kitchen floor – obviously murdered. Signs of Dark Magic were apparent in causing his death.
Higglebee is a bachelor whom lives in East Kenton, and well-known owner of "Merchandise and Mothballs" of Diagon Alley. He has no surviving relatives or next-of-kin. The Department of Magical Law Enforcement has no leads at this time.
However, more puzzling than Higglebee's apparent murder is this sign the murderer perhaps left behind. Is it a calling card to the murderer? Is it, perhaps, a clue to the murderer's identity? We called in Head and Ministry Expert of Investigative and Forensic Magics Harrison Shaklebolt to get his take on this mysterious happenstance –"
Daphne stopped reading; she looked up at Astoria. "That must have been the first time the Mark was ever used," she said. Her voice sounded odd. They had been whispering the whole time they'd been in the library – lest be subject to Madame Pince's wrath – but this time Daphne's voice sounded low and almost awe-struck. Astoria felt another shiver run up her spine.
"What's the date on it?" Astoria asked, leaning over Daphne's arm so she could get a clearer look at the article.
"January twenty-first, 1971," said Daphne.
"So, Mum and Dad would have still been at Hogwarts…."
Daphne waved her away, "Yeah, of course they would have. I doubt Dad would have had anything to do with this."
Astoria wondered why Daphne had brought it up, then. Surely it wasn't important. Astoria tried to push the story of Higglebee's unexplained murder out of her head, tried to banish the picture of the Dark Mark hanging in the sky – which had conjured up memories of the Dark Mark blooming above the woods at the World Cup.
Daphne groaned and stretched, letting the newspaper on her lap flutter to the floor as she stood up. She arched her back, "Merlin, we've been here for hours, Tori. It's already after two – we've completely missed lunch."
Astoria stood up as well, finding her legs and back were stiff from sitting on the floor for so long. She checked her own watch and was equally surprised to see how late it had gotten. She'd only just realized how hungry she was. Her stomach growled audible.
"I guess we've done enough for today," said Daphne, looking at the mess of newspapers they had left on the floor.
"But we – didn't really find anything out," said Astoria, not knowing if that was a good or a bad thing. Almost unconsciously something had been growing in her chest while they searched, some unnamed, clawing thing that Astoria could only closely enough call yearning. She half-way didn't want to stop looking.
"Well," said Daphne, "I honestly didn't expect to on just the first day. We'll have to come back next Saturday to look more."
"Alright…" said Astoria.
"You go on," said Daphne dismissively. "I'll hang back to clean up."
Astoria hesitated. It didn't seem very much in Daphne's nature to stay behind to do the work that Astoria might otherwise help with – or be made to do entirely by herself. Yet, Astoria felt strangely like she should not press the point. She wondered again if Daphne was intending to keep their parents' engagement announcement, but didn't want Astoria to realize it.
Astoria took leave of her sister and made her way out of the library. Madame Pince watched her go with narrowed eyes, surely planning on jumping into the aisle as soon as Daphne left to survey the damage the sisters had wreaked.
Astoria rounded a corner outside the library and almost walked headlong into two familiar and unpleasant girls wearing Slytherin green.
"Ditched your Muggle-born friend, have you?" said Livonia Mentang, smirking.
"Haven't got anything better to do than study on a Saturday, I see," said Eris Platinous, smirking. Astoria wondered how the girls always had something ready to say. She wondered if they lied in bed at nights, thinking up insults in case they should bump into Astoria in the hall someday – like today.
"Maybe if you'd stuck with us we'd have let you hang out with us," said Livonia.
"Yes, that way you might actually have friends," said Eris.
"Maybe I'm glad not to be hanging out with you," snapped Astoria.
Eris's lip curled. Livonia laughed, "As if! Though I don't suppose, even if you had been sorted into Slytherin, we'd have liked you. I don't like smarmy little know-it-all bookworms."
"Yeah?" said Astoria, "We'll see how you like it when I have an upstanding position in the Ministry and your sweeping floors in a dress shop!"
"They don't let bloodtraitors into the Ministry, Greengrass," Eris hissed – just as Daphne came out of the library.
The affect was instantaneous. Livonia and Eris snapped their mouths shut. They looked horrified. Daphne came over to stand behind Astoria.
"You'd better watch your steps, second-years," she growled. Astoria looked up to see her sister's face transformed; her mouth was set in a straight line; her eyes were narrowed. "My mother's Lyra Greengrass – you've heard of her, have you? Well, you can be sure she can make it very difficult for anyone to get into the Ministry if her daughters ask her to do so."
Livonia visibly paled. Eris's face slackened.
"We didn't mean any harm – Daphne," Livonia said hastily. "Sorry we'll just – we'll just –"
Eris's hand enclosed around Livonia's wrist and both girls fled down the hallway, leaving Astoria and Daphne alone.
Astoria felt her cheeks burning. She looked at the floor. Daphne hadn't – Astoria hadn't needed Daphne to intervene.
"You shouldn't let them push you around, you know," said Daphne.
"I don't –" Astoria began.
"I'm just saying," Daphne continued. "You're pureblood – purer than they are, I'm sure. Plus, Mum has influence. They haven't any right to treat you like an infidel."
"They don't treat me –" Astoria tried again to object.
Daphne's hand lightly touched her shoulder, "Anyway," she cut Astoria off. "I should really go. Pansy will flip if I don't get back; she wanted me to curl her hair."
"Oh," said Astoria frowning. "Okay – see you next Saturday, then."
"Sure, see you, Tori," said Daphne, and left in the direction Livonia and Eris had – toward the Slytherin common room.
Astoria sighed and tried to smooth her ruffled pride. She set off to look for Sara and Melissa, inwardly knowing they would probably still be with Stephan and Mark and Astoria would end up spending the rest of the afternoon on her own.