Chapter 6
Dumbledore was glad that he had got Victor sorted out and packed off out of the country to Severus before the grave faced healers in white robes had come to take Walter to an isolation ward in the mental illness department.
The Crabbe parents were incandescent with fury; and Dumbledore had to work hard to convince them that it was either a case of attempting a cure for a problem that they were so busy trying to deny that they had made almost a virtue of his 'forceful little personality' or of seeing the boy end up in Azkaban as soon as he was seventeen and prosecutable. They had grown so used to the little monster that they were unable at first to see how abnormal he was; and Dumbledore gave them the assessment from St Mungo's to read.
It was a clinical assessment of a mind so truly abnormal as to be a danger to the other children at Hogwarts and likely to have criminal consequences were not ruthless and experimental treatment techniques carried out at once. The head of Mental Health, a no-nonsense witch in middle years told Dumbledore that with deep legilimensy they hoped to find a source of the abnormality and, by expunging entirely even the unconscious memory of it, to bring the boy with discussion and therapy to a recognition of his own wrong thinking.
"It might take years" said the Healer "But if it makes him a normal child and enables him to have a full and happy life instead of trying to be a second Voldemort it is worth doing. Had his parents brought him to us the moment it became apparent his behaviour was aberrant it would have been much easier; but every action of his has reinforced in his own mind that his behaviour is normal."
"It might have helped if they had not decided that there was no problem" Dumbledore had said dryly.
Severus had spoken of an evil book that warped the minds of children and was to apprise the healers of its effect on the off-chance that something similar had warped the boy; he hoped that would help!
Of the Headmaster's worries over the Crabbe boys he showed nothing however; and merely spoke of the forthcoming Triwizard competition.
"The quidditch this year therefore, being disrupted, will be played for the David Fraser Shield, more informally than is usual" he said. "Applicants for the Triwizard who will be seventeen during its course need a written note of permission from their parent or guardian, others advance your names to me and we shall travel out to Germany after the weekend. We have a new and exciting development; Mr Lucius Malfoy has installed a viewing globe of the brand new Wizarding Wireless Vision for us, and at Prince Peak Academy and Beauxbatons so each school may see how their champions are doing during the various tasks. It is one way only; shouting out advice is pointless and that I will warn you now. Incidentally, as I shall be the arbiter of whom I take, those who are significantly under age will NOT be going even if, as I am reliably informed, some of the Mad Marauders are convinced that they have a way around the age line. I must point out also that those people of goblin heritage had better be able to perform any tasks they may wish without a wand since carrying a wand for goblins and part goblins is banned in Germany and I do not think I trust the nature of interschool co-operation not to have any such youths hied off to some noisome German gaol for the crime of being English. I apologise for this to my goblin and mixed race students. This affects I think Mr Bane, Miss Gan Gorjak and Miss Gan Nork. It also affects Miss Konal in Austria and I believe that Professor Snape is refusing to risk her. If it is any consolation, though I believe any one of the three of you, and Senagra Gan Konal too, could have beaten the foreign contenders of any of the previous years, there are students in the two sixths who are capable of surpassing you on this test."
Arjelan rose.
"Sir, we are all aware that Lionel Dell and Mei Chang are the two real contenders. We'd like the others to go along though to give moral support and be ready to lick those Kraut gits if need be. Cholaka and me know we can't go, but surely any human is all human? Can't you claim that so us goblins have at least part of a representative in Morty Bane?"
"Mortimer my boy, you would not be allowed a wand; just in case" said Dumbledore "Not, at least, until I managed to clarify the situation. Will you take the risk?"
"Sir, I'm a Marauder. Marauders always take the risk" said Mortimer rising.
The other Marauders cheered him.
"Better blood you in quick then" muttered Leo. "Then you won't NEED a ruddy wand."
Mortimer's heart raced as he was led to the blooding ceremony in Myrtle's loo.
He knew why it was called Myrtle's loo; and was even more impressed than he had been before by Professor Abraxus and his marble hand; and by Professor Carmichael and her ability to adapt!
He had, in truth, made up his mind to be a Marauder and accept the invitation on the spur o the moment when Dumbledore called upon him.
He could not let Dumbledore down; nor the school; nor the Malfoy twins; nor the Marauders. And that was what Marauders did; they did not let people down.
He was surprised at who were Marauders.
Professor Khan was there, the man who had been so kind to Bjorn's father, and helped him get a job as bodyguard to all the children in Orme Court, by talking to the Professors Malfoy; and Professor Black; and Professor Lupin. The Mad Marauders he already knew; and there were a selection of third years, one weevil and a child not even in school yet, who called Professor Khan 'Daddy'; and the great Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy.
"As it's Durmstrang bashing we had to blow in long enough for the ceremony" Harry grinned "You can blood up with Sev Snape when you're over there; and Jade'll be involved you betcha! And Seaghsron too probably and Lynx and Fabian even if Senagra can't."
"We came just because" said Hawke, laying a hand on Mortimer's shoulder. Mortimer smiled mistily.
"I'm in for the Konal family" Professor Konal, one of Mortimer's favourite teachers grinned. "And Mimi stands in for her mother and uncle. It's full quorum and almost a waste not to have brought in another whole layer."
"They aren't ready yet" said Mei "Anyway, what about the rule 'no-one under twelve without special circumstances or pestilential brats like Bella interfering?"
"What, is Bella part of the rule?" grinned Draco.
Mei sniffed.
"She almost has to be; you can't bind her by them any other way. Every rule, written and unwritten, should be appended 'this means Bella too'."
Bella grinned unrepentantly.
"I don't know what the rules ARE" said Mortimer.
"Oh there aren't any real rules" said Draco "We try to keep the youngsters out until they've settled down a bit; and we do what is necessary. But the bloodsong will TELL you what that is."
"Time" said Lydia.
They slit their palms; and made the blood tie with Mortimer, and those who had not previously blooded, mingled with those they had not specifically bonded with.
"Not that it really matters; we're sufficiently many headed and mutable to all be one anyhow" said Lydia.
And then they hissed
Ssss We be of one blood, ye and I ssss and Mortimer knew he was now a Parseltongue! And the pounding of the blood of so many people in his ears sang of a brotherhood so deep and profound as he had never known; and knew that Hawke counted him kin. And he threw his arms around his mentor and guardian and almost cried with joy.
oOoOo
Durmstrang!
That dark forbidding castle with its dark forbidding lake frowned towards the Catalina Flying Boat as it came in to land with the contingent from Hogwarts.
The would-be champions from Britain were Lionel Dell, Mei Chang, Mortimer Bane, Ross and Freya Tuthill, Francesca Longbottom, Romneya Coulter of Slytherin, Debbie Brent and Jake Webbe of Gryffindor, and Achille Crouch Villeneuve who had demanded the chance to come along despite the Marauders of all ages howling with mirth at him having so much as a shout at it when there were better wizards and witches than him in the third.
As Bella Black had regularly bested Achille in the duelling club as had Mimi this was true enough to be even more hurtful; but Achille was adamant. Dumbledore had asked if he was sure he really wanted to attempt this as there were others more skilful; but Achille dug his heels in. He HAD to be better than any of the others except perhaps Fran Longbottom who was also a Ravenclaw; and perhaps Mei Chang.
Fran had promised Lionel to keep an eye on Achille and sit on him if he got too friendly with the more dangerous German types. Fran did not seek trouble the way both blood groups did; but she had no illusions and was a central member of the MSHG and as ready to fight as anyone.
And the MSHG left behind were also prepared to fight.
The cynical defenders of Hogwarts had every expectation of attack from Odessa while the Headmaster and the most able of the sixth were out of the castle; it was almost impossible for Gerhardt to resist.
"Unless he goes for Prince Peak instead" said Lydia.
"I think he'll try both, frankly" said Mad "He reacts like a Ravenclaw; and a Ravenclaw always overestimates his abilities in comparison to others. Also he is German; and he has a cult of personality. I betcha he perceives Albus and Severus as the mainstays of our respective schools. It's nice of the free school types to come up on a 'friendly visit' though to be able to 'watch their former colleague if he gets chosen'.
Mortimer had no expectation of being chosen; it would be a laugh if he was, seeing the looks of horror being cast his way as the Hogwarts contingent filed in. The feelings seemed almost to border on physical revulsion! What an absolute hoot!
He sobered.
Probably there were some of the kids at Hogwarts who felt like that when Kinat Gan Konal had started there; Kinat was brave all right!
"Professor Dumbledore" the spare, dark woman who greeted them also looked at Mortimer with some horror. "You trust yourself to muggle transport?"
"Oh I'd rather do that than sail on a rather precarious galleon I think" said Dumbledore "Madam Bacsó, I assure you our aeroplane is perfectly safe; in addition to its normal muggle controls it has a number of magical backup features. Hiding by obviousness; no need for confundment, an excellent solution! Ah, and here is Severus, in a similarly easily hidden conveyance!"
The Prince Peak contingent came in a vehicle that would occasion interest and notice from some muggles – the historians among them – in the same way the Catalina might.
Fired with the enthusiasm for the similarities of Prince Peak to the Schloss Adler in the film 'Where Eagles Dare', David Fraser had lovingly built from scratch the early German helicopter featured in the film.
Naturally it was somewhat larger on the inside than on the outside; and occasioned less comment lifting off from the castle courtyard than a Tante Ju, otherwise known as a Junkers 52, which he had also made thoughtful noises about.
Mortimer's blood sang! Other bloodkin approached!
Four of the youths could he feel in his blood, two girls and two boys; and the tall grim-visaged headmaster with them, half his face ruined with burn scars, though the eye was undamaged and glittered blackly like the other.
All five gave him a quick, appraising look; the girls gave him a brief smile, the boys winked and the man gave him a brief, half nod of acknowledgement.
The blondeish girl mouthed
"What House?" and he replied, mouthing back,
"Slytherin!" for so he had been Sorted after the little ones, and showed around by Lionel Dell, installed in a dormitory with Lionel's cousin Gregory or Grigs, a couple of very nice lads called Godfrey and Gerald and a boy who seemed a loner called Marcus.
The girl grinned in triumph and she gave him a brief 'thumb's up'.
There had been grumbles concerning the Triwizard that Professor Snape had stolen the brightest and best of two years of Slytherin and a significant number of better Gryffs too.
There were affectionate greetings between Hogwarts would-be champions and some of those of Prince Peak; and the merry eyed dark haired girl of the blood song – whom he recognised with shock as Lynx, his guardian's intended wife and mother of small Leona Pardis – looked at Achille Crouch-Villeneuve as though she had found him adhering to the bottom of her shoe after a foray down Umbrous Place North.
Two girls were introduced to the Hogwarts group, Sylvia Hubble and Angelica Hellibore.
"Sylvia's a cousin of your Maud Langstaffe" Jade Snape explained to the Hogwarters. "And Angelica's vaguely related to Mad Lockhart"
Mortimer looked on Angelica with renewed interest; Mad was his brother and also his friend. And of course, Maud was also his sister now! But these two were not bloodkin. For that matter, neither was Mei's brother. It did not always follow though it seemed to sometimes.
There were eight contenders from Prince Peak; nine from Hogwarts and as many from Durmstrang, seven of them girls.
"Probably picked for the relative purity of their wizarding blood as much as for ability" Mei murmured to him.
Mortimer nodded.
That would seem to agree with the ethos of these people. One of the Durmstrang boys did not look prepossessing; and Mortimer would have sworn that he was the child of a hectoring father who took out his frustrations on little kids. He had seen it often enough after all; for in the cramped conditions in the Umbrous Lane complex everyone knew everyone else's business and all about the families living nearby. The other boy did not look unpleasant; he had an athlete's body and an air of dignity. His look at Mortimer was taken aback rather than offended; and he gazed curiously upon the part goblin boy.
"Professor Bacsó" said a flaxen haired girl clearly "Must we associate with the children of rapists?"
"Your young protégé appears to have some odd idée fixée Agata" said Dumbeldore "Young lady, would you care to explain?"
"Well there is a boy of part goblin blood; how can that be unless his unfortunate mother was raped?" she said.
"My parents were married" said Mortimer "My father, who was human, was good looking enough to attract my half-blood mother, he was not as ugly as many pure bred humans are."
The Hogwarts and Prince Peak contingents laughed.
The girl blinked.
"Excuse me? Your FATHER was the human? I mistake" she said. She looked confused.
"Where I live people live together as people" said Mortimer loudly and firmly.
"I am sure that you are happy in whatever …..place…..you come from young man, but we have not the time here to discuss such things" said Madam Bacsó.
Mortimer made her a beautiful bow as Hawke had coached him for Hogwarts.
"Madam" he said with a flourish.
Bacsó burned.
"Dumbledore are you going to permit this – boy – to mock me?"
Dumbledore looked surprised.
"Mock, Agata? He treats you as he would the head of his own school; QUITE properly. I should expect him to acquiesce to a command of mine in a like manner" he said.
Jade dropped a deep and beautiful curtsey to Dumbledore.
"You recall, Professor Dumbledore, there were few manners displayed from certain contingents in the last Triwizard; Madam Bacsó is not accustomed to proper respect being granted her" she said.
"Ah yes indeed" said Dumbledore.
The naughty children were going to play it that way then!
The powder blue carriage drawn by abraxans arrived; and Madam Maxime cried in delight as she alighted,
"Prrofessor Dumblydore 'ow good to see you! Ah and ze good professor Snape 'oo give my nephew a job 'e enjoy!"
Both Headmasters bowed to her and the Hogwarts and Prince Peak contingents bowed and curtseyed as appropriate as she turned to beam upon them.
"Ees it true my good Eengleesh friends zat we have also the 'Ellibore's academy – ah bah, what a name! – to compete?" she demanded "Zat old fool Engelbert 'Ellibore, 'e contact me and ask zat I not mind. Ah bah, I do not mind, 'is boys are as nozzing!"
"Several parents who sent their children to the two separate schools ARE starting to send their sons to me too" murmured Severus.
"Eh bien, when I know 'oo is in charge of what was zat silly creature's girls' academy, I tell my children zat zey must be on zere heels – no, toes – for Professor Snape, 'e is formidable!" she said.
"Hellibore's contacted us all rather at the last minute to request inclusion" said Dumbledore "And we pointed out that the design of the tasks had already been assigned. He seemed happy with that, so we made no objection; if Agata has made no objection either then I should think that five schools will take part. But come, let our young people meet; they may as well mingle while we await Englebert."
If Severus muttered something about 'Engelbert the terminally unready' it was not an audible comment.
The numbers of boys and girls of the French school's would-be champions were reversed; there being seven boys and but two girls. One had a touch of the slav about him as did three of the Durmstrangers; one looked Italian and three had the blonde looks that could pass for English or Germanic.
The groups were exchanging names – not that even Lionel thought he would ever recall them all, let alone poor Mortimer still adapting to all the new names at a new school! – when another flying carriage turned up.
"Ah, Englebert has arrived" Dumbledore rubbed his hands together.
"Try not to rag him too much Albus; I wouldn't say he cheats" said Severus dryly "But he's not gracious in defeat and he tries to be overbearing at any kid he thinks he can bully. I'm glad it's the sports ministries doing the marking not him; because if my Jade is our champion I believe he would mark her zero just because she can do magic he cannot."
Dumbledore nodded.
"Well I shan't be disposed to be uncivil, Severus" he said.
"hmmmph" said Severus.
The tall imposing wizard that was Engelbert Hellibore – one had to admit he looked the part with long flowing white locks and beard – was accompanied by half a dozen young wizards.
Jade was busy explaining to Mortimer and Mei,
"Two of them are brothers of one of our girls, one upper one lower sixth, Cenric and Miles Grant, our Emily's in the fourth and she's a tomboy to keep up with the boys; and Miles has been reading her text books so he might know a thing or two. There's another brother, Anastasius Brewer, Silvina's a wart and she's nothing special and the one that looks like her is the one that looks like a stuck up git ignoring an ice water enema."
Mei giggled.
It did rather describe the supercilious expression of the boy.
"The good looking one is my cousin-in-law Quirinius" volunteered Angelica "He's stepmama's nephew. He's a bit of a nosy parker and reckons he knows it all. Mind you he did know enough to say someone else ought to look at my back; he's curious about you, Jade, I told him YOU fixed it. He didn't feel able to try himself!"
"Well I have been doing transfigurations for rather a long time" said Jade calmly. "Since I was about eight, I think. It's my thing."
"Quirinius reckons that transfigurations is his thing" said Angelica.
Lynx giggled.
"Yes but there aren't many people in the same class as Jade" she said. "D'you reckon you'll win it, or Lionel, Jade?"
Jade considered.
"Wouldn't like to say" she said "I have no formal comparative magic if that comes into anything, though I've picked up a bit; if there's one where we need potioneering or can use it as an option reckon I'm downhill all the way. Good planner, though, Lionel Dell; meticulous. Methodical."
"Hey, what about my chances of being chosen?" demanded Mei. "And Lynx or Fabian?"
"Isn't going to happen" Lynx shook her black curls "I'd LOVE it to be me, but Jade knows things I never knew there were to know. And Mei, my poppet, you on Lionel in a duel might be one thing; but like she says he has order and method and uses er, ze leetle grey cells."
"Lionel has a touch of brilliance" said Jade. "He'll go far. I have a lot of respect for Lionel Dell."
"The Hellibores no chance then?" asked Mortimer.
"Huh, they challenged us to quidditch because they wanted to laugh at girls in quidditch gowns; didn't lay on changing rooms OR refreshments until we asked pointedly where both were, tried to put us down, one tried to jinx me and the seeker wondered at us having a girl as seeker since girls have no sense of direction" she grinned savagely "I left him head down in the mud after I pulled the Wronski feint and an Immelmann turn on him to grab the snitch. Terrible oiks about losing too, really I'd expect better from a bunch of east end muggles!"
Dumbledore and Hellibore were greeting each other with false heartiness.
"So glad you feel you can come out of obscurity now we killed Voldemort!" said Dumbledore cheerily "Excellent that you feel more able to join the modern fight against dark wizards!"
"Er…. What modern fight against dark wizards?" said Hellibore looking distinctly uncomfortable.
"Oh, Odessa, old man; Gellert Grindelwald's grandson and his silliness" said Dumbledore "Agata will tell you, she had a little trouble with an agent planted on her; silly fool got the idea I'd lost my powers and decided – how like such cowards as these supremacists often are – to challenge me when it was then, as he thought, safe! Still, these little matters are sent to keep up our defences and keep us young, hmm?" he beamed.
Several Durmstrangers glowered.
Severus leaned over the blood group.
"Their new deputy is the girl who duelled Harry in the duelling competition" he muttered.
Jade looked startled.
"The one that threw Avada Kedavra? Crumbs! She'll be Odessa then; are you going to stick your eyes down her brain, dad?"
"Jade! WHAT a way to refer to legilimensy…..pest that you are" he added laughing.
The young people circulated a little; and then it was time to go in to supper.
The Great Hall was imposing but sombre; the plain grey stone of the supporting pillars uncompromising and the architecture heavy and overpowering. The house elves passing out food were rarely seen, they were expected to be largely invisible unless summoned to bring anything, and they were ill clad in rags and downtrodden looking.
"DON'T be nice to them, don't say anything" said Jade urgently to the Hogwarts crowd "They'd have to punish themselves for wishing THEIR pupils were nice to them. There's still a compulsion here remember."
The majority of the visitors – Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Prince Peak – leaped to their feet as the assorted professors came in. Some of the Durmstrangers sniggered rudely.
"Whatever low types does this place take that they not rise for their Teachers?" said Jade in fluent German "Poor Madam Bacsó she must be most ashamed of her so rude pupils, there cannot be any good blood left in Eastern Europe at all that such guttersnipes make up the majority."
It was not spoken loudly; but it did not have to be.
Every German heard it clearly enough, though as though it was just at the edge of hearing. So too did Madam Bacsó; who was grinding her teeth that the foreigners thought her pupils so low; and indeed that she had received more courtesy from a blasted part goblin than from her own pupils!
The boys from Hellibore's gaped.
Hellibore was eyeing the silent rising of the Hogwarts and Prince Peak students with deep thought in his eyes.
Several eyes exchanged amused looks.
It would not be long before that was a custom at Hellibore's!
Severus, Jade, Seagh, Lynx and Fabian glided into an unused turret room near where they had all been found accommodation to blood with Mortimer.
"And then Ah'll be awa' tae stick ma snoutie intae ither folk's business" said Seagh.
"Remember you can use the mirror to communicate with Hogwarts if need be" said Jade.
"whisht, quicker tae go!" said Seagh. "It'll aye be weel afther dark that they attack, I'm thinking. And likely mair tai be when we're tied up on the morro' when the champions is being announced."
"See if you can find out if SHE's Gerhardt's agent" said Jade.
"Och, and will ye no' teach me tae use a wand next?" said Seagh with heavy sarcasm , and stepped as though through a filmy veil into – somewhere else.
Jade blew a raspberry.
An unseen raspberry sounded back.
"My brother's part fey" she said to Mortimer. "He's going to poke around in fey space. It's another universe with a semi-permeable interface with our universe and may be entered by using a z-axis rotation of complex numbers, and how nice, you actually follow what I'm talking about instead of glazing over like most people do."
Mortimer grinned.
"Only partly!" he said "I kinda get the gist though. Take me through it more slowly another time and I reckon I might get there!"
"WELL now!" said Jade pleased. "With a touch of goblin in there – the goblin are descendants of the fey – you can probably learn to access it readily enough; and that's another of us can learn without too much difficulty!"
"I can but only by Arithmancy and a lot of faith in having the fey blood kinship" said Severus.
"And the ones that are part Malfoy are three parts fey and the rest loony" said Fabian.
Jade poked him.
"And dangerous. You forgot, and dangerous" she added.
"As a sack full of adders!" said Fabian cheerfully.
"Ah well" said Jade "At least that's acknowledged… I guess it's about time to go put our names in the cup. I wager Lydia COULD have confunded it you know."
"Well I expect we shall find out when it's held next and Lilith manages to get her name in at er, rising fourteen" said Severus pulling a resigned look.
"Oh I back Lilith any day" said Jade cheerfully "You DID specifically forbid her from using feyspace to come and do it this time, didn't you?"
Severus gave her a wild, horrified look.
"I did not….it never occurred….."
Jade took pity on her father and grinned.
"Fortunately however it occurred to me; so I forbade her. That's why she was so snippy when we left."
Severus heaved a sigh of relief.
"Why me?" he asked.