The Welshman
by Hyena Cub
Rating: PG-13 for violence, language, and death, especially later on.
Genre: Harry Potter

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CHAPTER 11: The Quest

The Quest was not a quick one! By the next day, Arcturus had forgiven us for winning at Quidditch, and joined the Quest. Faolan single-mindedly pursued the mystery, but it wasn't exactly easy; we couldn't find anything about this weird room in 'Hogwarts, A History', none of the staff or students knew any more than we did already, and even the portraits didn't seem to know exactly what we were talking about. I met some old bloke up on the sixth floor who said he remembered such a room from when he had gone to Hogwarts (in 1765), but couldn't for the life of him remember where it was. He thought it might be on the fifth floor, but he could be mistaken.

Arcturus began asking the ghosts, and what he learned was the most infuriating of all. He'd found one who knew about the room, but he refused, point-blank, to tell him where it was! 'The Bloody Baron is a bloody git,' he huffed during lunch, when he related the story. 'He said that students shouldn't be using that room, and that it was a Hogwarts secret…creepy old bastard.'

I let a burst of laughter at that; the Bloody Baron was creepy. He stared at you when you went by, his eyes wide and haunted, and his gaunt body was draped in ancient clothing with silvery stains all over it. I learned last year they were bloodstains. Even most of the Slytherins didn't like the Bloody Baron!

'Well, Nearly-Headless Nick wasn't too much more helpful,' I grumbled. 'He said he'd heard of it but didn't know where it was.'

That was around the end of November. It didn't help, either, that we were all so busy. What with clubs, practices, and classes, we all had our hands full. There was a duelling tournament at the end of the year to train with, too, and lesser matches during the year that would determine who was to compete in it. That left less time than I wanted to go room-hunting.

By the time Christmas rolled around, we'd discovered a new secret passage from the fifth floor to the first, but no secret room. We'd even asked random people in Hogsmeade a few days ago when we went for our second weekend there, with no luck.

'All right,' I said during supper on the last night before we were to take the Hogwarts Express home for Christmas. 'Let's each ask our parents around it…see what we can find. And when we get back we'll start the search again.'

'Sounds like a plan,' said Faolan.

'I'll peruse Hogwarts, A History,' promised Peter. We'd not even gotten the whole way through it yet. 'I only have a Potions essay during the holidays, I'll have loads of time.'

'Good,' I said. 'And I'll ask my parents.

'I'll ask my aunt,' said Arcturus in distaste. 'She's completely mad, if you ask me and I don't really like her, but she knows some weird things, and she seems to like me for some reason.'

'If you can stand her that long,' said Ke'koa, grinning.

'For the good of our noble Quest, I shall,' Arcturus said, and we laughed. We were all talking pretty lightly about it, but I was actually excited. It was a quest, and I liked being on it. I just hoped that we'd be able to complete it.

The next day on the train, none of us talked about our Quest. We all had our tasks, and it wouldn't do much more good to talk about it anymore until one of us had learned something new. In fact, we didn't talk much at all. Peter and Arcturus were both half-asleep, Faolan seemed to be too restless to focus on any one thing, and Ke'koa was in a grouchy mood. I myself was extremely impatient the entire way, wishing the blinkin' train could just Apparate! So, given our collective mood, the most we did was to play some rounds if Exploding Snap. (I won one, and Ke'koa won the other.)

When we finally arrived at the station, the five of us nearly trampled the rest of the students getting out of the train. I apologized to some little first-year girl whose foot I had trodden on, before finally extracting myself from the sliding door.

'Calen!' shrieked a small voice. I turned, grinned, as my littlest brother Kian ran at me and threw his arms around my legs.

I laughed, bent, and picked him up. 'Hey, you!' I said happily. 'I missed you!'

'I missed you, too!'

I laughed and set him down, looking up to see my family and Ke'koa's standing together on the platform. I waved at them and called, 'Wait a second!' I turned to my friends, who were still grouped nearby, and smiled at them. 'Well…guess I'll see you guys after the New Years. Have a good Christmas.'

'You too, mate,' said Faolan. I caught sight of Faolan's father and waved to him; we didn't know each other well, but I'd met Mr Farson before, and he was pretty nice. Mr Farson waved back.

'You don't wanna meet mine,' said Arcturus darkly. 'I don't even see them here…they probably forgot again.'

I frowned, watching Arcturus for a minute, then sighed. 'You know…next year we'll plan to have you over at our place for Christmas. You never enjoy being home with your family anyway.' Arcturus's parents weren't exactly abusive, but they didn't really care much one way or another about Arcturus. They provided what he needed to live, but he mostly stayed by himself when he was at home.

Arcturus smiled at me, a little shyly, which was very strange for him. 'I'd like that. Elsewise I think I'll just sign up next year to stay at Hogwarts. That'd be less work for my parents and more fun for me!'

I didn't like the idea of leaving him at Hogwarts, either, but it had to be better than at home. 'Well, write to me. You can complain about your family in your letters.'

Arcturus snorted. 'They'd be too heavy for the owls to carry. I'll save it for Hogwarts.'

I said goodbye to Arcturus and Faolan before grabbing Kian's hand and going back to where my parents and other brothers stood, talking to Ke'koa's mum and dad. Dad grinned and grabbed me up in a bear hug, nearly squeezing the breath out of me.

'Blimey, you trying to kill me, or what?' I demanded as Mum hugged me next.

'If he was trying, you'd be dead,' said Ke'koa's dad with a grin as I hugged my little brothers. Dad laughed, and I rolled my eyes.

'The Ilimas are coming over for Christmas dinner this year,' said Dad.

'Cool!' I liked that idea! 'I wonder if we could invite Arcturus, too. Faolan'll be with his family, but Arcturus…well I've told you about his family.' My brothers and parents had met all of my friends, and liked them though Ke'koa was the only one they really knew.

Mum and Dad exchanged a thoughtful look, and Dad finally said, 'We'll see. Maybe we'll contact his parents, see what they say.'

That was good enough for me! The Ilimas finally said goodbye, and headed for the enchanted barrier that led into the train station, while I turned to leave with my family. It'd be nice if Acrturus could just come over for dinner. Then I could give him the present I'd gotten him during our second Hogsmeade weekend.

As we all slipped through the barrier, I began babbling on about the school year and everything that had gone on. No one said much, accustomed to my way of relating news faster than the speed of sound. I told them about Quidditch and about the Moor twins (I always had at least one complaint about those creeps), and about the strange room that we were looking for.

To my disappointment, neither of my parents seemed to know what I was talking about, but were rather interested. 'If you manage to find it,' said Dad, 'let us know. I'm curious, now.'

'Oh, I will!' I said. 'Definitely! But first…I gotta find it.'

Dad and Mum actually had a car. It was a Muggle car…but both of them knew how to use it, and had actually taken the test Muggles have to take to be allowed to drive a car. They have to be licensed to drive cars, the way we have to be licensed to Apparate. Same concept, I guess. The Muggle cars aren't beast-driven, but they've got what Ke'koa calls 'engines'. And they can go very fast. And Muggles get killed in them a lot because they lose control or smash into another car. And I thought Apparition was dangerous! At least then the biggest danger is Splinching yourself.

So while I sat in the back with my brothers – Dad had used an Extension Charm to make the backseat big enough for us all – I asked Mum if she'd heard anything more about Professor Ryan.

Mum, who was driving, looked in the little mirror that's in the middle of the front window, and gave me a significant look. 'I haven't heard much, no,' she said, and I realized she didn't want to discuss it in front of the little'uns.

'Oh. Okay.' Kieran and Kian didn't seem to have noticed much, but Killian was giving me a searching look…he was getting old enough to realize when something was being kept from him, and he was probably going to ask me about it. I'd probably tell him, too. I didn't like it when adults refused to tell me something because they thought I couldn't handle it. I'd always hated it, and they were always wrong. When I did find out (usually through eavesdropping) what they didn't want to tell me, it was never much of a big deal.

So, when Kieran asked me things, I never refused to tell him.

I actually didn't get my answer that night. I hadn't realized just how much I'd missed my family – which was normal, since Hogwarts has a way of keeping you busy – and I just spent the night being with them. I answered all my little brothers' questions, gave Kian the promised tickle torture, smiled when Kieran said he was glad to see me, he guessed (which coming from him was pretty nice), and played some games.

That night, Killian bunked with me, and I gladly shared my bed, making it bigger so that we'd both be comfortable. I loved Hogwarts, but was always glad to be home, too!

The next day was Christmas Eve. There was no snow on the ground, which annoyed me, but my brothers and I played outside for a while. We played tag and rode broomsticks. (Kian even had a kiddie broomstick, you know the kind that only goes a couple of feet off the ground, and not too fast.) I had a race with Kieran, and won, which he sulked about for a while, and even convinced Killian to take a few turns on my broomstick. He wasn't normally much of a flier.

During afternoon tea, I told my parents and brothers some of the stories I had forgotten to tell the night before, like my first day in Hogsmeade, and abut all the cool shops there. Kieran tried to get me to tell him what I got him for Christmas, but I refused. Of course thinking of my adventures at Hogwarts, I got to thinking again about Professor Ryan…and once we were finished eating and drinking, I cornered Mum in the kitchen and asked again.

'Oh, that's right,' said Mum, glancing out into the living room, where Dad was wrestling with my brothers. Mum smiled and made a little gesture with her head. 'Let's have a walk.'

'Okay, lemme grab my scarf.' I dashed into the living room and grabbed my scarf from the couch, where I'd tossed it after our morning romp, then joined Mum by the door. She waved at Dad, who nodded back, unable to answer much more than that, else he was going to get pounced my Kieran. I laughed quietly as I followed Mum out of the door.

'So…you and your friends have been dealing with some mysteries, it seems,' she said, looking faintly amused. I frowned a bit at her amusement and she gave me a sort of one-armed hug. 'Don't be offended, kiddo. I'm laughing because I remember being the same way…though I was more like your friend Faolan, by the sound of it. Rabid about mystery solving.'

I finally laughed a little, and nodded. 'I guess…it's not really funny, though. I mean…to us, it's serious.'

Mum's smile faded. 'Yes…it is serious,' she agreed. 'Well as to that room you were talking about, I couldn't help you. I might have heard about such a thing, but couldn't tell you anything about it. But as for Professor Ryan…well, that's another story.'

'You know more, then?' I asked eagerly. I knew that he'd been killed by a Muggle weapon, but Mum's department had done a lot more investigating since that day.

'We do,' said Mum. 'And none of us like it much. Victor Ryan was murdered…we can tell that much. The first indication was that it was a Muggle mob doing the killing…one of those increasingly numerous anti-magic folk who, the more they learn about our kind, the less they like us.'

'At first?' I asked, raising my eyebrows. A gust of wind blew my hair into my face and I brushed it away impatiently.

'Yes. There was no magical trace on him…no curse had been used. Someone hit him over the head with a club, which we found nearby, then stabbed him with some kind of short blade, a dagger or knife. Odd for Muggles to be so close to Hogsmeade, but possible. But…and this we've only found out recently. The only reason he was away from Hogwarts at all was that he got a letter by owl post at the castle, saying that there had been an emergency with his mother, and that he needed to head home immediately…his parents live in Hogsmeade, you see, out on the outskirts.'

'Owl post…but that wouldn't be a Muggle, would it?'

'No,' said Mum grimly as she and I walked around the corner.

The wind was obviously gusting from that direction, for as soon as we got around the large apartment building that sat on that corner, it began stinging our faces, and my eyes started watering. I swore and wrapped my scarf around my face.

'Watch your mouth,' Mum said mildly.

'Sorry. So…whoever did this was either a wizard…or at least knows a wizard,' I said. 'Else how would they have access to a post owl?'

'Exactly. But other than that, we can't find any clues!' Here, Mum's voice became a lot more frustrated. 'No witnesses, no…no hairs left behind, no bits of clothing…whoever it was, was very, very careful, and left no trace of his – or their – identities. Which of course likely means that they're professionals. They do this often. And his parents had disappeared, also…can't find hide nor hair of them.'

She fell silent, but my mind was racing – a professional killer! A hit wizard? Why could anyone possible want to kill Professor Ryan so badly? 'I…I guess Professor Ryan didn't have any enemies?' I said, and I sounded a bit shaky. I felt a bit shaky. This was someone I knew. It was unnerving, finding out that someone had deliberately murdered him. And so close to my school!

'None that we could find,' said Mum. 'Which has us all a bit uneasy. Usually only fairly powerful Dark wizards are so…skilled. And of course everyone gets a little nervous when Dark wizards are mentioned There have been so many who've done terrible damage to the United Kingdom.'

'But—that's all in the past!' I said. 'I mean, that stuff's all ancient history. That kinda thing couldn't happen now, could it? What with all the new stuff they've learned, and….'

But Mum had stopped walking, and was looking at me very seriously. 'Listen carefully, Calen,' she said. 'The chances are that you're probably right…it could very well just be a wizard with a grudge against Ryan. But there have been a lot of strange things going on lately, and the wizarding world…well, it's very much in a state of change. New laws, new ways of trying to live alongside Muggles…. It's a dangerous time. Never think that something horrible couldn't happen again.

I stared at her, unease making my stomach clench, like before my first Quidditch game, but worse. I was glad I hadn't eaten much at tea. 'I…I guess so,' I finally said.

I must have looked awfully alarmed, because Mum suddenly laughed and hugged me. 'There's no need to worry quite that much,' she said. 'I just want you to know… There has been a lot of damage caused in the past by people not believing that such a thing could happen…even while it was happening. So just be aware. It could make a big difference.'

That made me feel a lot better; it sort of put things in proportion. I still felt a bit paranoid, but my initial alarm was fading. 'Yeah…yeah that's a good idea.' Mum smiled, and we continued our walk. 'Killian saw something was up when I asked you in the car yesterday,' I said. 'He's gonna ask what I was talking about.'

Mum looked at me from the corner of her eyes. She didn't say anything for a few moments, and then asked, 'And will you tell him?'

'Yes,' I said, watching her for her reaction. She frowned, but didn't immediately veto the idea, so I felt fairly encouraged. 'I don't like when people tell me I'm too young to handle things. So I don't do it…I figure if he's old enough to notice and ask, he's old enough to know the truth…right?'

Mum thought about this for a few minutes—so long, in fact, that we were nearly to the next corner before she spoke again. 'You do have a point,' she said finally. 'He's ten…he'll be going to Hogwarts next year. And he's a clever boy. Clever enough not to make all the wrong assumptions. I do trust you'll be clever yourself, in telling him, and not give him nightmares for a week?'

She smirked a bit and I tried to look offended, but couldn't manage it. 'Of course, Mum, have a little faith in me!'

Mum finally smiled. 'I do, my love. I do. I imagine your father won't be too thrilled, but I'll talk with him.'

'Cool…thanks.' I personally though what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him, but Mum didn't work that way. She much preferred things being out in the open. Information and understanding, and all that. It was a good idea, I supposed, but it could also be a pain in the arse.

We didn't speak again on the way home, only enjoyed the little stroll around the block. (Though I could have done without the sub-freezing temperatures.) When we got back inside, I was shivering a little bit, and I dumped my scarf and cloak on the couch so I could sit by the fire.

I didn't get much of a chance to sit, though. Dad was done wrestling with my brothers, so while Kian had gone up to his room, Kieran and Killian apparently weren't done being violent. Kieran attacked me from behind, tackling me and wrapping his arms around my neck. Killian giggled gleefully and pounced on me as I was struggling with the octopus that had suddenly latched onto my neck.

After my initial surprise, I laughed and wrestled them both to the floor. Dad was usually nice and let them win…but I was no such person! I finally got them pinned down, and I sat on Killian (as he was older I wasn't afraid I would squish him) and grabbed Kieran around the waist, holding on tightly, and tickling the hell out of him. I demanded capitulation, and finally got it, letting him go. He got to his feet, pointed a dramatic finger at me and said, 'You! Are! A! Cheater!' Then he stalked off. I couldn't stop laughing, and even Killian was giggling at Kieran's emphatic declaration.

'So,' I said, looking down at my rather gentler brother. 'Do I have to give you tickle-torture too, or shall you declare me the winner?'

'Okay, okay,' he said, laughing. 'You're the winner! Lemme up…you're gonna make me all flat.'

'Flat?' I repeated indignantly. 'I'm not that fat, you little—'

I removed myself from his torso and gave him a poke in the side. Killian giggled, then suddenly hugged me. 'I'm glad you're my brother,' he said.

I smiled and hugged the kid back. 'Yeah, me too.' Killian and Kian had one thing in common; they both had the sudden tendency to show their affection, which was a very endearing trait. I just hoed it wouldn't get Killian mercilessly made fun of in school. Of course anyone who messed with him would have to deal with my friends and me in a very direct manner, but still.

'If the battle is over,' said my father mildly from the doorway, 'who wants to go and pick out our tree for this year?'

Killian and I both enthusiastically agreed, and the two little ones were obviously not far, either, because I heard an excited cheer from their direction, too. Killian and I looked at each other and laughed.

Getting the tree was a favourite part of Christmas for me, and the rest of my family, too. There was a large swatch of forest up near the northern border of England where we'd go to hunt down our Christmas tree. There was a Scottish bloke up there who owned hundreds of acres of woodland, and he always allowed so many people to come in and take a tree, to help thin out the forest. He made good money, too. He was a Muggle, but that was all right; he was nice enough, and it wasn't as if he could tell we didn't actually use the axes and saws we brought with us every year.

I didn't know the man's real name, but everyone called him Hunter –I wasn't sure why. He knew us by sight, and greeted us warmly as we all trooped into his little cabin on the edge of his lands, where he met his customers; it always reminded me of Artemis's hut. He had his fire blazing, which was a welcome respite from the winds. We'd used Side-Along Apparition to get here (Kian was a little sniffly about it; he didn't like Apparition at all), but we'd had to appear about a mile away from the cabin. We couldn't chance being seen by any Muggles. By the time we hiked here, dressed in Muggle clothes for the day, we were all freezing. Muggle coats just weren't as good as a nice, thick, winter cloak.

'Afternoon,' said Dad to Hunter once we were all inside.

'Afternoon'!' said Hunter, a big, beefy man with longish black hair, usually in a braid or a ponytail, and a neatly trimmed beard and moustache. He nodded down to Kian, who smiled up at him. 'The bairn's getting' big, isn't he? How're ye today, lad?'

'Good!' said Kian. 'We're going to get a huge tree.'

My dad laughed, and Hunter grinned at Kian. 'Well then, I'll not keep ye, lad! Ye'll need all the time ye can get to find yer tree. Make sure yer daddy here gets the perfect one.'

Kian giggled and nodded his agreement, and Dad ruffled his hair. 'Well I imagine we'll be a couple, three hours,' said Dad. 'We'll see you when we get back, then.'

'Enjoy!' said Hunter, waving us towards the back door of his cabin, which led onto his lands. Kieran let out a whoop and bounded into the trees, and I rolled my eyes. I thought I was hyper! I chased after him to make sure he didn't get himself lost; he didn't always think before he acted.

It was an enjoyable afternoon. I spent as much time gleefully chasing my little brothers all over the place as I did helping Mum and Dad find a nice tree for our living room. We ended up getting a fair-sized red cedar tree, which smelled great. Dad looked furtively around to make sure no Muggles were about before taking out his wand and chopping the tree down with a well-placed Severing Charm.

Kieran declared confidently that he would carry it back to the cabin for us, which made all of us laugh, me hardest of all. Grinning, Dad stepped back and invited Kieran to try. I watched in amusement as Kieran grabbed the tree by its severed trunk and gave it a mighty tug. I snickered as he frowned, obviously not pleased with the tree's lack of cooperation, and tried again.

Smiling impishly, Dad aimed his wand at the tree again, and I realized a moment later that he had enchanted the tree to be a good deal lighter. Kieran's second tug moved the tree easily a meter, and Kieran fell onto his face, looking both surprised and pleased. He didn't seem to be surprised at the tree's sudden lack of weight, and he happily put the trunk up on his shoulder and began dragging the tree back the way we had come.

I was shaking in silent laughter as I began to follow, Killian was smirking, and Kian looked a little confused. Mum tried to give Dad a disapproving look, but the situation was too funny for her to manage it.

Before we got too close to the cabin, Dad began gradually increasing the weight of the tree until Kieran finally stopped, panting for breath. 'Okay,' he said. 'I got it this far. You can carry it now, Dad.' And with that, he strode on, satisfied that he'd done his duty for the day. I think I busted an intestine trying not to guffaw right out loud.

'That kid needs an ego check,' I said as Dad chuckled and picked up the tree.

When we got back to the cabin, we were all a bit chilly, but happy. Dad paid Hunter for the tree, using the Muggle pounds instead of Galleons. (Mum had to help him with the Muggle money.) Hunter convinced us to stick around for some tea, which we did, but by then it was getting close to suppertime.

'Ye enjoy that tree,' he told us with a grin as we were ready to leave.

'Oh we will, sir,' said Dad. 'And we'll see you next year!'

I waved back at Hunter as we left, heading for the spot we'd Apparated in at, so we could Apparate out again. Dad said that with the tree, we were gonna have to make two trips to get back home. I said that Kieran and I could stay here while he and Mum took the tree and the other two. Kieran liked creepy stuff almost as much as I did, and the wooded are was very dark and spooky by that time of night.

Mum and Dad agreed willingly enough; it wasn't as if it was a dangerous area, after all. There were only gone a few moments, and I spent the time trying to creep Kieran out. I thought I was succeeding pretty well, but apparently I was creeping myself out as well, because when Dad came back with the sudden CRACK of Apparition, both of us screamed in alarm, then started laughing.

Dad was taken aback at first, then joined in laughing. 'I think you're quite ready to get back home,' he said, and we didn't argue.

--

The tree was a nice one. Any damage done by Kieran's hauling it along the ground for who knew how long was fixed easily enough once we got it into our living room. I helped Dad get the tree set up straight in its base, and we all stood back to admire it. It was already filling the living room with its sweet cedar smell.

'Come help me get the Christmas things from the attic, will you, Calen?' Dad asked.

'Sure.'

While my brothers watched Mum clean up all the needles we'd scattered all over the carpet, I followed Dad up to the first floor, where we had the stairs to the attic at the end of the hallway. I'd been afraid of the attic when I was little, imagining all sorts of evil, scary creatures lurking in the corners. A remnant of that childhood fear persisted to that day, but once I got older, I began liking the fear, rather than hating it. Whenever I wanted to creep myself out, I'd go up to the attic and huddle in the corner, watching the shadows creep along the walls and ceiling.

The attic wasn't quite so creepy in the daylight. Dad lit the lamps, and I looked around at all the familiar crates and trunks that sat on shelves or stacked on the floor. We headed for the near-left corner, where we kept all of our tree decorations. Mum and Dad had already gotten all the Christmas lights fixed on the house, and the decorations that Mum liked to put in the rooms and windows. But we always saved the tree for Christmas Eve.

'Ah, here we go,' said Dad. 'Take this one, will you?'

I stepped forward and grabbed the box, stepping out of the way while Dad grabbed another. 'What's in all these, anyway?' I asked. I'd snooped here and there before, but had never really explored the place. I realized for the first time that I had no real clue what was in most of those trunks.

'Well, a lot of them are you boys' baby things,' said Dad as we carefully went back down the stairs towards the living room. 'Some are your mum's and my things from our youth…I think there's a box with my own baby things in it. We've got several boxes from grandma and grandpa… Some are heirlooms from the various generations of Weasleys. There's a lot of family history up there.'

For a moment I only stared at Dad's back—all of that cool stuff was up there and I'd never explored it? How'd I manage that? 'That's brilliant…I'm gonna come up here and look through everything!'

Dad chuckled. 'Go ahead,' he said. 'Just put stuff away once you've finished looking through it. Leave a mess up there and I'll have to tan your hide.' He turned around and winked, and I rolled my eyes. I hadn't gotten spanked since I was about five, and I told Dad he wasn't big enough to tan my hide.

That made him laugh even harder. 'And you talk about your brother's ego,' he said as we walked into the living room with our burdens. I set the box down near the tree, and Kieran and Killian came over to peer inside it.

'We'll get started while you two get the rest of the decorations,' said Mum. 'If you don't mind?'

'Nah, we don't mind,' I said, giving Dad a mischievous glance. 'If Dad can handle it, anyway. He's not a kid anymore, after all.'

Dad made an indignant spluttering sound and took a swipe at me, but I dodged, grinning, and sprinted from the room. I heard Dad mutter a word he didn't normally say in front of the little kids, and I heard him run after me. Kieran shrieked laughter, and Kian giggled as Dad chased me, finally catching me in the upstairs hallway and giving me a good smack upside the head. I yelled in protest, laughing as I brushed my hair back out of my face.

'I'm reporting you to the authorities,' I threatened, and Dad snorted.

'You do that,' he said, shaking his head. 'And they'll say you had that coming.'

'Probably so,' I agreed amiably enough. I glanced toward three smallish figures standing at the end of the hall, watching gleefully, and I made as if to run after them. 'Go on, you brats, or you'll get what I got!'

Giggling, they ran back down the stairs.

We managed to get the rest of the decorations down without too much bloodshed, and we spent the rest of the evening decorating the tree, having Christmas Eve supper, and talking about Christmas. After dinner, Dad made hot chocolate, and we all sat in the living room with our steaming mugs, watching the lights on the tree. I don't think I ever felt as content as I did during Christmastime, when I could sit and watch the tree lights all night.

By the time I was ready to go to bed, I was pleasantly tired. I went up to my room, expecting that Killian would be asleep, but when I got there, he was sitting up in my bed, looking as if he'd waited for me. 'What's up?' I asked, undressing so I could get into my pyjamas.

'I wanted to know about that thing you asked Mum about,' he said at once. 'In the car? I saw her look….'

I smirked as I pulled on my pyjama trousers, then turned around to face Killian, nodding slowly. 'I thought you might've noticed that.'

'You're gonna tell me, right?' He seemed anxious about this, as if I might suddenly decide not to tell him anything. I always told him what he wanted to know, but he was always worried next time I'd decide not to…. He could be pretty insecure.

'Of course I am,' I said, mild rebuke in my voice. 'Since when have I not?'

He smiled a little sheepishly and shrugged. 'I dunno…I just wanted to ask.'

I climbed into bed, pulling up my top, then pulled my blanked up onto my leg. 'Mum knows I'm gonna tell you too, so she doesn't mind. Just, if you have questions or anything, ask me, okay? Like always.'

'I will,' promised Killian eagerly.

'All right. Well, it's about Professor Ryan…he was my Headmaster at Hogwarts.'

Killian frowned uncertainly. ''Was'?'

I sighed. 'Yeah…'was.' See, he went missing all of a sudden…. No one knew where he was…but Mum wrote to me one night and told me what happened. Professor Ryan…well, he's dead.'

I watched Killian carefully as I told him that, to gauge his reaction. His eyes widened and he gasped in a little breath. 'Dead?' he whispered. 'But...how? What happened?'

All right, he wanted to know how it happened…that meant he wasn't too scared yet, which was good. I decided not to make it too graphic…there was need to go into detail, after all. I explained about how he'd been killed by somebody, probably someone that didn't like him. (Killian expressed great indignation that someone would kill a person just because he didn't like them, and I agreed.)

'The weird thing is,' I said, 'that no one knows who could've done it. Mum's been trying to figure it out at her job. And most people don't know he's dead. The Prophet hasn't even reported it.'

At that, Killian blinked. 'Why?'

'I dunno,' I said. 'That's a really good question. But not even the papers are reporting it, so you've got to keep it to yourself.' Killian nodded solemnly and promised, and I eyed him for a moment. 'You okay with this?'

'Sure,' he said with a little shrug. 'I mean…I'm sorry he's dead. But…it's not scaring me or anything.'

I smiled a bit and settled down into bed. 'Good…I'm glad.' I closed my eyes thinking it actually made sense that he wasn't as unnerved about it as I was. He never met Professor Ryan. Hearing about a death, even a murder, was never as intimidating if it was a stranger who was killed.