Chapter 3

The school spilled noisily out of the train and made their way to the cable car where, sorted by class they were escorted up by various teachers, the newcomers much impressed and awed by the conveyance.

"Goblin contrivances are most awfully clever, aren't they?" said Rence.

Hiob snorted.

"This isn't a goblin contrivance; it's a muggle invention. Only this has been made with goblin-made gears and such for extra safety and in case it needs to take any enchantment. It's steam powered only the boiler has Gubraithian Fire to keep the steam up same as in a steam engine on tracks. Muggles are actually more inventive in some respects even than we goblins are; or at least give that impression over the last few centuries. Largely because the wizarding world has been wasting OUR talents by trying to keep us in our supposed place and depressing our will which naturally also dulls the creativity. Goblins were quick to copy muggle steam engines and most wizards truly believe goblins invented them. We did not; but our people have improved on various designs. Water summoning taps set off immediately the water drops below a certain level in the tanks for example mean we never have to rely on finding water for the boiler as well as being sure it's pure water without lime; and a number of extra valves and magical condensing-inducers and so on mean that goblin-made steam engines have around about a ninety per cent efficiency rate; muggle engines run at about eighty per cent. That's if you're counting the energy of the boiling water. Compared to the fact that muggles have to power steam engines by burning coal it's a lot better, because only about a quarter of the energy stored in coal actually gets to be used. Which is why muggles moved to what seemed to them to be more efficient types of energy production than steam power. For the wizarding world it's about as efficient as we either need or can use because otherwise you're straying into the province of electricity and electricity and magic don't mix."

"You know an awful lot about muggles" said Rence.

"I know an awful lot about technology" said Hiob "It's my hobby."

oOoOo

Severus welcomed the school back for a new school year.

"We have two older transfers this year" he said "William Weasley in the third who I trust is settling in with his fellows and will be given any aid he requires." As Severus' adoptive son Siegfried was in that class he knew he would hear unofficially if there were any problems; but William seemed to have settled in well with that bunch of young reprobates and their theatrical leanings.

"Yes sir, with hair that red we can use him as the evil efreet in the Christmas pantomime we're planning!" called out Georgi Metlaev.

"Well Georgi, I'm sure we shall all enjoy any offering of theatre you and your confederates produce for us" said Severus. That would explain why he had received no reports of the third being in trouble on the train; they were in a theatrical huddle. That might make life relatively quiet; that class were almost as ubiquitous as a whole as any bunch of marauders!

"So long as the little horrors don't decide to scare everyone to death with puppet efreeti like their wretched fey attack on the sixth" murmured Hermione.

"Oh like a sort of shadow puppet fire gang?" said Ron "That'd be cool; I must check they've seen 'Labyrinth'."

Hermione gave a theatrical and hollow groan.

Severus decided to ignore her and went on,

"The other new girl is Kizzy Delmar who has not been on the train because she arrived a little early; she's in the fourth and will be initially in the care of Johanna and the Breuer twins to show around. You have heard of Kizzy from the Broomstick Boys who are sponsoring her; please do your best to help her settle in as a free person."

The Broomstick Boys had given a concert at the school the previous year and outlined how in America black muggle slaves had been bred with house elves to make an enslaved group of people who were often, like Kizzy, as little as a quarter elf. Kizzy was petite with dusky skin, a slightly larger head than most humans, with points to her ears, large liquid brown eyes and features that any muggle might describe as 'elfin' without necessarily looking much like an elf. She had briefly met the twins when they were about to set out and had liked them whilst being faintly shocked at the idea of goblins considering themselves as good as masters – or humans, as she must learn to think of them. Goblins in America technically had equal rights to humans, and before the coup in England had technically had more rights than English goblins, barring the right to bear wands. Reality was, however, a very different matter; and America suffered from ghettos of goblins in wizarding communities. To muggles, goblins appeared as Hispanics; which was a despised social group. Intermarriages were virtually unknown. Goblin genes in slaves was not unknown; having a goblin servant sire a child on a quarter-elf slave girl meant that her offspring were definitely not going to be taken as human and maybe managing to hide amongst the black population.

America was the only place where colour issues mattered too; because of the slavery of black individuals, including some black wizarding families having been owned by white wizarding families, usually from childhood. Black skinned wizards tended either to want to show that they had never been slaves by owning their own elves; or were abolitionists of the loudest kind. Such an one had confronted the Broomstick boys after they had won Kizzy in a game and given her clothes; and Kizzy had clung to Crys while Nils told the man haranguing him that he had a filthy mind and that any decent pair of young men with a young girl in tow protected her and sent her to school as their ward to learn how people ought to be treated and if he wanted to learn that he should look at the records of the races of people in English schools. Nils had managed to get him to quieten down and go away but it had been frightening. The quieter but implacable fight against slavery of the English was strange but more comfortable. And Kizzy planned to use her golden voice to sing songs of freedom to break the chains of obedience and blood tie to any families who persisted in slave owning when she knew enough. She had said as much to the twins; who had applauded her.

oOoOo

Meanwhile there was more school business.

"The votes have been returned for the head of school and I'm sure you're all eager to hear who won. The majority of the votes were poled by Flo Visick; with one or two votes each going to Mungo, George and Sandalla. Flo my dear, who would you pick as your deputy from among their number?"

"But – but I'm only lower sixth!" said Flo "There must be a mistake; people aren't supposed to vote for me, are they?"

Severus laughed.

"People vote for the person they think most capable, my child" he said "Yes; you are lower sixth. Others in Hogwarts have risen to the challenge of a two year tenure; Draco Malfoy, David Fraser and Lionel Dell. For what it's worth two of them have also been Triwizard champions and you'll have the option of entering that next year."

"Oh I know fine well the school champion will be AHHa" said Flo cheerfully "Though I WILL enter; well I voted for Mungo who's an upper sixth and I say, sir, will I really hold it for two years or will I revert to being a prefect after this year and if I get voted back, all well and good and if there's someone better that's fair too?"

"You will give up power as happily as having accepted it?" said Severus.

"If there's someone who has better organisational skills, I'd be wrong not to, wouldn't I?" said Flo.

"Show of hands on who thinks this ought to be a custom instituted if we have a head in the Lower Sixth" said Severus.

"Nah" said AHHa "If it ain't broke, sir, don't fix it. Flo's good to go for a couple of years; it'd mean another lower sixth next year because we aren't hardly likely to find sudden extra leadership skills in the meantime; she can pick another deputy next year but if she's the one with the confidence reposed in her, why expect that to change? I can lead but I'm also a bit too committed to marauder stuff which is why I asked my lot not to vote for me, and Sandalla also did not want to have to lead before she has to do princess things. Silvina is too tied up in music. George could do it and Fred does what Flo tells him anyway and nobody could do it so well as Flo. I say, hands down because if she fluffs it she'll resign long before the end of year. Only she won't" he added.

"Hands up to re-vote – a sprinkling" said Severus "Most of you tend to agree with AHHa. Which I tend to do myself" he added "Though I wonder if it might not have been good for AHHa to be made to rise to the challenge next year himself. Gurning and making mime of being sick is NOT becoming to a sixth former Mr Hallow-Hellibore" he added sternly.

And this was why AHHa was not really ready to be head boy; he still had outbreaks of childishness. And by next year he probably WOULD be ready; but the prefects were right. Nobody could do it, as things stood, quite as well as Flo.

"Well if the school wants me, they'd better be prepared to put up with me for the two years then" said Flo.

"My dear, you are the only real possible choice" said Severus "And Mungo an excellent deputy; I think you know who will be a good deputy next year."

Flo nodded seriously; she had picked up that he wanted AHHa pushed into responsibility of a more mundane and tedious nature than leading fights against dark wizards!

Severus went on,

"We have been issued a challenge of a friendly duel from Durmstrang; they suggest a team of eight, each to duel an opponent from the other school; which points count for a team win. The highest scoring eight contestants will then be paired up top with bottom and so on to play off for a first to fourth position. None of you are likely to know, but the last duelling competition with Durmstrang was a round Robin with Hogwarts and Beauxbatons, each with teams of six, fighting two duels each for the points and Durmstrang and Beauxbatons each managed to get one contestant into the top eight; the entire Hogwarts team went through. I don't necessarily say we shall do as well since Durmstrang has shaped up a lot since then; but I am inclined to suggest that it be once again a three way match with the new Russian school for purebloods as one of the participants; I need hardly remind you that our aim would be to depress their pretensions. Madam Bacsó has assured me that she will guarantee the safety of any goblin, part goblin or elf duellists who make it to the team. If you would like to keep it a two team match place your left hand on your head; if you would like a three-way match raise your right hand…. Well I don't even need to count as I don't see a single hand on the head, though there are a few abstentions. I'll talk to Agata Bacsó soonest then. Quidditch and Quiddpolo try outs as usual once the new ones have their hands in, and those of you involved in gymkhanas may put your names down for the meet on the last weekend in September; it's a small local one but we may as well attend if anyone is interested."

There was much excited chatter; a duel made a change to quidditch and gave a chance to shine for those more academic than sporty. Somebody managed to recall that Hermione Granger had been a part of the three-school duel and acquired the information that David Fraser, who had come third, had only been fourteen and Willow Prince had been a year younger. This fired the imaginations of the lower school who were told firmly that the choice of the team would be in the number of points scored in the duelling club in the first part of the term; and only on that, so it was in the hands of those who would like to participate.

"Which will at least hopefully boost their charms and transfigurations skills as a general thing" as Krait remarked to Dione. "We'll cede position of referee to Agata; she used to be a duelling champion in her time. A way of getting notice for a non German of course to gain position teaching. I heard that Durmstrang humiliated the Cheesteeykovy Shkola Koldoovstvoy at quidditch and for the insults the pure-bloods made their juniors gave them a delayed action curse they let us write in the book of all wickedness involving pustules bursting open to reveal summoned maggots."

"Kids are revolting, wherever they come from" grinned Dione "HOW creative! Our little marauding counterparts at Durmstrang are good kids; and it will be a challenge for our types to have to meet other marauders too."

"That's what Severus thought" said Krait. "And good too for the Pure-bloods of Russia to meet them in a way that will prove, hopefully, memorable in a bad way."

"You ARE a bad girl!" giggled Dione.

It was perhaps as well that none of the pupils were party to such a staff conversation and its attendant wicked giggles.

oOoOo

This year's third and fourth had been in for a bit of a shock in some respects; in that Arithmancy was now to be one of the compulsory subjects to take to OWL along with DADA, Potions, Charms and transfigurations. The whole of the fourth except Rudi and Beta had been taking it as an elective in any case; and both Rudi ad Beta had received holiday coaching from, to their relief, Madam Malfoy, since Madam Granger in the holidays would be rather too much of a good thing. Rudi and Beta were resigned. It was more of an issue to the third where Solange and Germaine merely detested Arithmancy and Werner and Conrad tried to protest that it contravened the 1415 statute banning cruel and unusual punishment, under which casuistry the use of dementors had been introduced in prisons since they 'only' depressed the spirits. For dunces at the subject like Werner and Conrad, Madam Granger was quite as depressing as any dementor.

"I sympathise; but there have always been those taking compulsory subjects who have had a blind spot in one or more" said Professor Snape firmly when presented with this ingeniously cheeky petition. "However, Arithmancy IS a subject which can be come to grips with by the pure application of hard work; as too may potions in almost every case. Consider the feelings of those unfortunate enough not to shine at wand work or who have a blind spot about transfiguration! A purely theory class is easier to overcome difficulty with; and moreover as this school has expectations that a significant number of its students will pursue theory beyond NEWT level, it is imperative that we equip our students to do so. Arithmancy is vital for the study of higher magic; and should you wish to take almost any serious subject to NEWT, a lack of Arithmancy will be felt. Geomancy, for example, or chanting; the enchanting side of your metalwork, Werner. Conrad, you have done so very well to overcome YOUR difficulties with casting spells and to find the magic within you; I feel sure that you will apply equal determination and ability to Artithmancy."

He smiled kindly on them.

There was not a lot they could do but murmur 'yes, Professor Snape' and make their bows.

"Cheeky little scrotes!" said Hermione when he regaled the staffroom about the petition.

"Worth a try though" said Ron; which earned him a poke from his wife.

oOoOo

Kizzy was drawn into the group of chattering girls who were unpacking in their respective dormitories whilst two little boys, one of whom was a goblin, passed cheerfully rude comments about being even more outnumbered by girls.

"There are twelve girls now" said Johanna, who had been introduced to Kizzy "One takes Rudi's and Henik's point but we still have to point and giggle; it's obligatory to keep boys in their place you know!"

As the boys responded to this by pulling faces, Kizzy was able to interpret this as a normal rivalry rather than girls having any special standing in the school.

"As bad, they say, it is, as it was when the school was a girls' school with the first few male imports" mourned Rudi.

"Beset on every side we are" said Henik.

"If you two boys would only go and unpack you'd not be beset by girls and have a better chance of not being beset by me" said Sirri waspishly. Kizzy had met Madam Sirri Snape briefly and thought it amazing that a half elf should wield as much power as any staff member when the boys scurried meekly away.

Nobody wanted to be on the wrong side of Sirri, the Kitchen Tyrant.

"We'd like Kizzy in our dorm, please Sirri" said Hette "And please can we not be with Lucy, Sarah, Cerellia or Liriope; or else Jo will talk horses all night with them and twin and I will be forced to murder her a little bit."

Sirri laughed.

"Jo, will you pick the horsy bunch to live with or your fellow marauders?"

"Oh marauders come first" said Johanna. "I can talk horses when we're currying our mounts. We'll share with Emma and Beta who are mostly harmless if they can put up with us mad ones."

"Oh so long as you marauder types don't want us to be out of our beds up to nefarious misdeeds we'd be happy, wouldn't we Bee?" said Emma. The little elf nodded cheerfully.

It worked out fairly well; Cerellia and Liriope, Lucy and Sylvana and Zoë and Sarah were very much paired off as friends; and if neither Sylvana nor Zoë took much interest in riding they supported their friends who did and managed not to be bored by fairly constant talk of horses. Sarah had taken sketches of the various horses and ponies the horsy ones of the school either owned or favoured in the school stables; and her sketches adorned the walls, prancing, snorting, rearing and flying in circles. Hette and Vava considered them very unrestful drawings, whilst admiring the skill and praising Sarah for her ability; but they were NOT their choice of drawings to go to sleep with!

"I don't think I like flying horses much either" said Kizzy "The master used to send me on errands sometimes to the stables and they're such big creatures they scared me."

"They ARE big creatures" agreed Beta. "And you're not sufficiently of elf blood to be likely to survive being kicked by one of the brutes like I might."

"They can be so gentle though when they know you" said Johanna.

"You human outsize types however have a head start – literally – on getting to know them" said Vava "For us short-arses it is harder; and don't cite Gorbrin Malfoy-Tobak in England because he's a Malfoy and that's a state of mind, as Cerellia keeps telling us now Mr Lucius Malfoy has accepted her mother as his sister. And Gorbrin is as tall as most humans, I've seen photos. And let's face it, Hette gets height sick on a broom."

"Motion sick; not height sick" corrected her twin. "It's the nature of the way the ruddy thing moves that makes me queasy."

"I hope you won't regret sharing with me" said Kizzy. "I don't want to get into trouble you know; I have to work hard to prove to Mr Crys and Mr Nils that they didn't make a mistake making me their ward."

"Darling, with a voice like that, so long as you speak from time to time we'll all be enchanted" said Vava. "Chanting is my thing; Hette is potions and Jo is charms. You're a VOICE however and we'll do all we can to help nurture it. Did Crys and Nils tell you about Marauding?"

"Some" said Kizzy cautiously.

"Well I fancy you're going to be one of us" said Vava "Because we stand for everything you and your guardians do; fighting injustice. We DO get up to nefarious what-she-said; to hone our skills to fight baddies. Our big sister is hoping to be school champ in the Triwizard next year just to show racists up; and she's got a good chance, though there's some stiff opposition in her class and the one above. And you betcha she's going to be in the duelling team; and that will so be funny because if the HOST school accepts her, the pure-bloods gotta or cede the match; either they lose by default or get creamed by a goblin, so how funny is that?"

"What if they er, cream her instead?" asked Kizzy.

The twins rolled around on the ground laughing.

"Yrdl's dead hard" said Hette "She's been trained as a marauder; we take risks others dare not because what does not kill you makes you stronger."

"Kai Kassai" added Vava.

They had just discovered Star Trek.

Kizzy thought the girls in her year were slightly insane but nice enough; and it was not accounted for by being English since five of the girls were not English. Perhaps it was just that they were happy could make jokes about everything because they felt so secure that even taking risks like Mr Crys and Mr Nils said marauders took did not matter. She wanted to be a part of such a group; her sponsors had told her regretfully that they had been the wrong age to be marauders but supported them; and that the ritual was, if it was offered to her, approved by them. What they meant by that she did not know.

She found out when she was led firmly to a box room and asked if she would place her life at the disposal of justice and freedom; and when she had done so the three girls she knew and four older children, two of them boys, slit their palms and handed her a silver knife.

Kizzy slit her own palm, wincing slightly; and began to mingle blood as they did, echoing the phrase 'we be of one blood, ye and I' that the others said.

And then she was as weak as a kitten and so happy she wanted to laugh and cry both at once.

And then with a sharp TAC! Mr Crys and Mr Nils turned up.

"What, leave us out you wretched brats?" said Nils, opening his palm.

And then Kizzy could feel both her benefactors closely; knew they loved her and wanted her as kin; and that they would never let her down.

And nor would her other friends….. and there were LOTS! Kizzy swayed.

Nils caught her and sat her down firmly and Yrdl unpacked goodies.

Pumpkin juice and sticky cakes went down well and Kizzy felt better.

"Isn't it an anti-apparating zone for humans?" she said.

"Not those of us who have shared with elf blood to give us the option of the other way" said Crys "There are so many of us of all kinds, Kizzy; you'll never need to be afraid again. Nobody can steal you away; one of us can always find you and rescue you with a method similar to the way an elf can always find the family that owns him. Only we wouldn't blood you; we wanted to see if you were chosen by your peer group of marauders."

"She felt right" said Hette "Like Johanna did. Rum, isn't it, I don't think Jo's little sister IS going to be a marauder."

"She's had rather an awful life brought up in a brothel" said Jo. "It's a bit soul destroying; she's only been rescued for a couple of years, and she's been there from birth."

"And how soul destroying is it to be a slave from birth and then your master, who's also your brother, starts touching you up?" said Vava.

Johanna looked at Kizzy and squeezed her hand.

"Some people are just remarkable people is all" she said "And Eva is not. She's done well to be fairly normal now; but she's got a big chip on her shoulder and it's personal. She hasn't yet learned to stand aside, accept the good and move on. And by the way, our Kizzy, when I was pretending to be maid to my half sister, the legitimate one, our father actually made a pass at me because he didn't even realise I was his daughter. He's a git. You can't choose your relatives – but you CAN choose your family."

Kizzy glanced shyly at Crys and Nils; and each put an arm about her.

"Well now we don't have to worry" said Nils "And I guess we need to get about our business and you lot have a bell you need to respond to."

"It's only first bedtime bell" said Hette. "But if we want a hot bath after all that travelling we'd better shift. Come on oiks; look alert. Your school needs lerts."

"But I say, before we do turn in" said Crow "Can we sort of enrol Crys and Nils as honorary Bee Marauders?"

"Nice idea" said Yrdl.

"And they've even got a B in their name as Broomstick Boys" said BaHH.

"Though that sort of slipped after the first few of us" said Batty. "It's more kind of that we buzz around irritating the unrighteous and ungodly."

"You've been reading Saint books again" said BaHH.

"He's cool" said Batty "Should have been a marauder. And I vote we include the Broomstick Boys too."

"Carried" said Yrdl as there was a murmur of assent.

"Well, you kids are the best" said Nils "We never got to be Marauders at school but we'll certainly uphold the spirit of it. And we'll be around"

"But we ought to be going" said Crys. "Hang loose!"

"Live long and prosper" said Hette.

oOoOo

Half of the Bee Marauders were in the fifth, and more or less precluded from playing pranks; and whilst not wishful to cramp the style of their younger members, especially with an ex slave to teach to have fun they hardly liked to be left out.

Yrdl went to see Severus about it.

"Sir, we want to teach Kizzy to have fun and be naughty" she said bluntly "But there's the unwritten law about fifth formers not marauding pranks-wise; only one can't have a prank in which all marauders don't at least KNOW what's going on. So I came to ask your advice."

Severus regarded her thoughtfully.

"Your straightness is commendable Miss Breuer" he said. "I believe that under the circumstances the importance of teaching a child to be a child outweighs the necessity for fifth formers to stand on their dignity; so long as any japes you are involved in do not interfere with your exam work. Which is a pretty stupid thing for me to say because so far as experience teaches me, Marauding japes ADD to the knowledge of the participants and give headaches only to examiners when thoughtful Marauders write NEWT level answers to OWL level questions because of their er, extra-curricular endeavours. Keep it light hearted. Oh and by the way, you Marauders might concentrate on your French, and on French history; I have some reason to suspect that there may be some potential trouble from French supremacists and those opposing goblin rights."

"Yes sir; thank you sir" said Yrdl "I'll talk to the Villeneuve twins about brushing us up."

oOoOo

The talk with the Villeneuve twins led to some rather interesting revelations and subsequent speculations.

"Our cousin Achille is a real racist" said Emil.

"He's also a git" said Cecilia. "Tried to get papa to agree to a betrothal with me, even though I hardly know him, to keep the family pure; said we could marry as soon as I was sixteen and as I wouldn't need qualifications to be a wife, it wouldn't matter if I hadn't taken my OWLs! Papa told him to drop dead – he's dead keen on us doing as well as we can even though we are well enough off not to need to – and Achille screeched at him, that he'd be sorry and that when he ruled France he would order me to marry him."

The Marauders exchanged glances.

"I say" said BaHH "That REALLY ought to go to Severus; because that means if he's a bit unbalanced there's a chance he might try to kidnap you. And if he thinks he's going to rule France that means he might be connected with supremacists and have delusions of Voldyness."

"He's too stupid to be a second Voldemort" said Emil "He got slung out of Hogwarts early you know; though I don't know why. He's barking; must be."

"Well let's go to Severus anyhow" said Yrdl "Barking he might be but that doesn't mean he might not be potentially dangerous."

oOoOo

Severus listened seriously.

"Achille Crouch-Villeneuve is a potentially dangerous young man" he said "He did not manage to accrue a following in Hogwarts because he was considered a poseur; but the French like a man who loves himself. He has some charisma and has been used to throwing his weight around because of his wealth and family position; he did not like it that even his prestigious English relatives did not buy him automatic respect. I know unofficially that he used the cruciatus curse on a younger child in Hogwarts, accepted Marauder punishment, and was in such a foul temper over it he pushed bullying to the point that Marauders decided to rag him quite seriously; and he was asked to leave because he had such a hysterical temper tantrum at Professor Flitwick. I should say that he is cunning; and quite ruthless. He also has a sense of grievance. Such things moulded Voldemort. I agree, Emil, that he's scarcely in Voldemort's league; but I believe it possible that he might cause trouble, if only by being the personable – as he can be – well-born and wealthy figurehead that the supremacists are looking for. And I shall tell you something else; when there were attempts made to make goblins look bad in France by seeming to be violent, our man on the ground strongly suspected Achille of having something to do with it. Achille's youngest uncle, who is only five years older than Achille, was arrested for the incitement to violence of the group of goblins he led – or rather misled – because of the injuries that were caused. I have little doubt that they were working together."

"Uncle Ferand is stuck up" said Cecilia "We weren't at all surprised when it turned out to be him behind all that trouble. Papa tries not to have much to do with his brothers; and he was most upset that Achille should be so insensitive as to try to marry Leticia or me out of hand – because he suggested Letty first, you know, and shrugged when he heard she was already betrothed and said what about me. He's git enough to have delusions of Voldyness. I like that phrase, BaHH."

"I may go and have a chat with your parents" said Severus "Because I know he made the same sort of proposal concerning Erica Malfoy when she was only twelve years old – that's Professor Malfoy-Chang to the rest of you. We need to keep an eye on Achille."

"Do you want me to pretend to be smitten and spy on him?" said Cecilia brightly. "I can you know."

"I should not ask any child in my care to walk into that level of danger" said Severus.

"Sir, if he's trying to be Monsieur de Voldemort numereaux deux doesn't it behove me to try?" said Cecilia.

"And I'll back her" said Emil.

"If you two will go to those lengths we ought to make you marauders properly" said BaHH.

"No time like the present" said Yrdl, producing a knife from thin air. Severus decided not to bother to ask how she had learned a NEWT level piece of summoning so effortlessly executed.

Other Marauders drifted into the office and information was rapidly imparted; and Emil and Cecilia were handed a knife and told to slit their palms.

The shock of joining was heady.

"Mon Dieu, THAT is how you are so close!" gasped Emil. "Ah, with this I am not in the least afraid to try to be an auror; I will never die alone!"

"Oh twin! We are so much more than twins!" gasped Cecilia "And we are more than two…. NOW I have no qualms or fears at all about making up to Achille. I shall know you will find me no matter what."

"We don't have to LIKE it much" said Granville Jorkins "Speaking as other twins."

"Nobody LIKES it" said Severus "But I have to say it would be spectacularly useful. If I were you I'd play it cautiously though, Cecilia."

"I thought to write to him and tell him that I've only just found out that he proposed and pretend to be a bit sulky that papa never gave me the chance to get to know my cousin better" said Cecilia "And enter into a schoolgirl crush type of correspondence."

"We'll all help you write that sort of gushy crap" said Yrdl.

"Good; you're more literate than me" said Cecilia, and giggled suddenly "WHAT would Achille say if he knew he was getting gushy letters written by a goblin!"

"He'd be fit to kill" said Yrdl cheerfully "And I'm not, I think, exaggerating."

"You are not" said Severus "A young man of intemperate humour is Achille Crouch Villeneuve; and a man who would do anything to punish a wound to his pride. It is my opinion that he would jump at the chance to humiliate his uncle for turning down his suit out of hand by seducing Cecilia. And my dear you MUST have ready excuses not to go off with him, and too must not let him force himself on you; you wish to keep yourself pure for marriage and you need to study to NEWT level potions to be sure to cover all the medical potions you will need as a mother."

"Poifect" said Cecilia "You are most awfully clever Severus."

Severus gave a grim smile.

"I spent too many years lying to Voldemort not to know how to formulate excuses, reasons and sophistries, even casuistries" he said "I had to lie about why I had not killed Harry Potter; which was, when all is said and done, rather an extreme thing to find excuse over. Trust me; if there is a way to weasel out of doing something, I know it, so you can always come to ME with any letter he writes for aid in rebuffing any suggestion he makes believably. I think I have his measure sufficiently well; he's sat enough detentions under me. He'll probably even suggest you spy on me; and finding out what he wants to find out could be what we need."

"You shouldn't let her do it" said Hermione.

"And if Voldemort had been your cousin and you had the chance of making pretty to him are you saying you'd have backed out?" said Severus dryly. "By Cecilia's age you three had faced Voldemort's machinations several times as well as thwarting my careful traps to hide the Philosopher's stone from the horrid little man. And if you come up with how it isn't fair that I wasn't letting you, Ron and Harry run your heads willingly into nooses you ought to remember that we didn't have the blood group then and nor did we have such a bond of trust."

Hermione sighed.

"Cecilia, promise not to play a lone hand; involve us" she said.

"Eh Bien, do I look stupid Madame Granger?" said Cecilia "I am French; and there is to the French girl an inherent pragmatism. I do not wish to be a heroine. I wish to be assured that Cousin Achille is buried under many tons of rubble after being poisoned, stabbed and treated to a dose of M. Kalashnikov's babies."

"She'll do" said Ron.