James Castle
Chapter 9: Aftermath
James released Hermione when Luna coughed, tapping her wrist impatiently. "Finite," James waved his wand at her, reverting her to her normal blond self.
"Thank you James," she smiled and began transfiguring her clothes to fit again.
"We need to get up to the tower before they notice we are missing," James ordered as he pushed Hermione back and pressed his wand to his coat. "Mischief Managed," he smiled as his Punisher attire reverted back to school robes.
"How…?" Hermione started asking before she broke down crying again, holding tightly onto James.
"It's okay, I'm here," he held her tight and picked her up in arms. "Let's get going," he said as Luna opened the door and lead the way towards Gryffindor Tower, skipping along the way. She waited patiently at the painting of the Fat Lady while James caught up to her with Hermione still in his arms, crying and whispering into his chest. "Open the damn door, she's the Head Girl," James glared at the painting that swung open, letting the three of them into the common room.
People were shouting and panicking, but grew silent when they saw James, Hermione, and the Ravenclaw enter. "What's wrong with Hermione? Why's Luna here?" Ron asked, being the only one brave enough to talk to them.
"I'm here to give my friend support Ronnie, she's been a little overwhelmed, that is all," Luna smiled, walking over to the couch she met Hermione at in the morning, shooing a few fourth years off it. "Here, sit the both of you down James," she motioned him over.
James sat down and tried to get Hermione to let go, but she stayed in his lap, holding him in a death grip. "It's okay Hermione," he soothed her, patting her on the back. "This isn't a damn show, beat it," he glared at the rest of the room.
"You heard him, get to your rooms," Ron took charge, being the seventh year boys prefect for Gryffindor. He frowned a bit when he noticed Ginny sitting on the arm of a chair by Neville, who just sat there unmoving, looking into the fire. He almost slapped himself when he remembered what Neville told him about his parents after it was announced that Bellatrix had tortured his parents.
Eventually the common room was cleared out, besides Luna and James comforting Hermione on the couch, Ron standing near portrait that led outside, listening for anything, and Ginny rubbing Neville's back as he stared blankly into the fire. "You lot going to be okay?" Ron asked as he abandoned the door and took a seat in one of the other armchairs.
Hermione let out another loud sob, pulling back out of James's soaked robes, nodding her head at Ron. "She's dead," her voice cracked before she sniffed and planted a big kiss on James.
"I think they will be fine Ronnie," Luna patted Hermione again before stretching out across Ron in his chair.
"Don't call me Ronnie, sounds like my brothers calling me ickle Ronnikins," Ron frowned before realizing she was in his lap. "Um…what are you doing Luna?" he shifted nervously.
"Oh, getting comfortable, dinner won't be here for another half hour, we're going to need our strength, it is going to be a while before we are allowed to get to sleep tonight," she hummed to herself, curling up against Ron who was as confused as he had ever been before.
"How did you know about the food?" Ron asked as he and Luna shared a plate of chicken a House Elf had brought them a few minutes ago. The House Elves had brought food for the others as well, Neville was eating very little as Ginny urged him. Hermione was being fed fruit by James between their kisses and whispers.
"Oh, Mr. Hat told me," Luna smiled as she nibbled on the piece of chicken she took from Ron's fork.
"Mr. Hat?" Ron gawked as Hermione and James started to laugh to themselves.
"Don't ask, just go with whatever she says," Hermione smiled at her friend. "Why aren't we going to be allowed to sleep Luna?" she asked the girl.
"Oh, they'll be here in a little, we had best finish eating," she shrugged, confusing the others as they finished eating and their plates were taken away by House Elves.
The portrait opened up a few minutes later admitting Dumbledore, Fudge, and a middle aged version of Draco Malfoy, the latter two looking very furious. "Ah, just the people we were looking for, I trust the rest of the Gryffindors have been fed and sent to their rooms Mr. Weasley?" Dumbledore smiled as Ron panicked at having a girl in his lap.
"Yes Headmaster," Ron nodded vigorously, trying to get Luna to move, but not being able to dislodge her.
"Very well then, Mr. Castle, the Ministry would like to have a word with you, regarding what happened tonight," Dumbledore smiled at the boy who was still comforting the Head Girl.
"I'd prefer not to leave Hermione, Headmaster Dumbledore, she's taking it pretty hard," James replied, holding Hermione close to him, smiling. "I'm of age, you can ask me whatever you want here," James shrugged, ignoring the three adults.
"These are manners of national security boy, you will be coming with us," Malfoy sneered at him.
"Leave the girl, you are coming with us to the Ministry for questioning Mr. Castle," Fudge repeated.
"I don't think so, we can do it all here," James smirked at them.
"You will come with us now, or we will make you come with us," the elder Malfoy gripped the head of his cane tightly.
"Unless you are arresting me, no I am not," James said calmly, getting Hermione to let go of him very carefully as he stood up. "I know my rights, Minister Fudge," he snorted at the Minister and Malfoy. "I'm a student, so cannot be taken from here without good reason, it would disrupt my education. And I am of age as well, so you can't go hauling me off without reason. Unless I am wrong in my understanding of the law, Supreme Mugwump Dumbledore," James glanced at the Headmaster.
"Mr. Castle, you never cease to amaze me with your knowledge of wizarding law and our school's bylaws," Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "He is quite correct Minister Fudge, you and Lucius cannot force him to leave without just cause and a hearing to verify the reason," Dumbledore explained.
"I'll be happy to answer your questions here, whatever I can do to help the Ministry," James smiled as he bowed slightly to the older men before settling back onto the couch next to Hermione.
Fudge and Malfoy argued a bit with Dumbledore as James noticed Hermione had stopped crying. "Feeling better?" he asked her quietly.
"A bit, what are you playing at with them?" she asked him back.
"Oh, a little of this, a little of that, trust me," he smiled and coughed to get the attention of the older wizards. "I couldn't help overhear your arguing," James twisted his head to them. "If you're that worried about me lying to you, you can give me some Veritaserum," he shrugged as the men argued with Dumbledore again.
"James, you realize you don't have to do this," Dumbledore asked after he quieted the other men.
"It's okay Headmaster, I have nothing to hide," James relaxed and hugged Hermione, kissing her forehead.
"As you wish Mr. Castle," Dumbledore nodded and went to the fireplace, noting the state Neville was in. "Are you okay Mr. Longbottom?" he asked the boy kindly.
Neville looked up with a faraway look in his eyes, surprised at being talked to. "What?" he replied before losing his focus and gazing into the fire again.
"He's getting better, I got him to eat," Ginny assured the Headmaster and patted Neville on the back.
"Very well then, take care of him," he smiled at the boy before turning to the fireplace. He pulled a handful of powder from his robes and threw it into the fire. "Severus Snape's office," he said before stepping into the fire and vanishing.
"You're going to tell us everything we want to know boy," Malfoy advanced on the students. "Filthy mudblood, using loopholes to taunt your betters," he gripped the cane tightly as James quickly released Hermione and stood, turning to face him.
"You take another step towards me, or threaten any of us again, you might be earning yourself a broken face to go with the one I gave your son," James glared at the older man.
"Lucius, calm down," Fudge ordered, stepping up beside the blonde. "We need information from the boy, calm down," Fudge jumped a bit when Dumbledore came back through the fire, followed by Severus Snape.
"What is going on here?" he bellowed at Fudge and Malfoy, noting the two of them and James about to pull wands.
"Just Malfoy wanted to insult me and try to start the questioning early," James glared at the Minster and Malfoy.
"If Miss Weasley and Miss Lovegood can kindly escort Mr. Weasley and Mr. Longbottom from the common room, we can begin this questioning," Dumbledore spoke to his students.
"They can stay, I have nothing to hide, besides, the castle has ears," James smirked. "Make yourselves at home gentlemen, and I use the term loosely," he waved his wand and conjured four chairs for the adults between him and the fireplace. Fudge and Malfoy took their seats as Dumbledore glared at them. "Before you lot drug me up, let me be clear, this is a voluntary questioning. If you get off track, Hermione or Luna will end this," he smiled as Hermione sat up surprised and Luna nodded.
"James…I," Hermione was interrupted by Luna.
"Don't worry Hermione," Luna smiled as she hopped over next to Hermione on the couch. "I'm sure everything will be fine," Luna smiled at Dumbledore.
"As Miss Lovegood is a seer, I must agree with her," Dumbledore smiled back before settling himself into his seat. "Severus, if you will administer the potion and ensure it is working?" he gestured at the Potions Professor.
Snape quickly dropped three drops of a liquid from his robes onto James' tongue without asking the boy to open up. He sat down in the remaining chair, waiting for the potion to take effect. When he recognized a small change in the boy's eyes, he spoke. "Who are you?"
"James Castle," he replied.
"Middle name?" Snape glared at the boy.
"I do not have one," James replied calmly.
"What do you think of me as a teacher?" Snape asked.
"You're a greasy haired son of a bitch who is jealous of how I will be better at Potions than you will ever be," James smirked at him.
"Severus…" Dumbledore questioned confusedly.
"He's telling the truth, as far as I can tell," Snape examined the boy's eyes with his own.
"Under Veritaserum a person is supposed to be calm and answer simply," Fudge glared at the boy.
"The potion is working, the boy appears to have a fair bit of Occulmency skill from what I can gather from not intruding too far," Snape continued staring at James.
"Best keep your head out of mine Snape, you might get hurt," James glared as Snape slumped back against the chair as if he had been hit. "If it makes you feel any better, I James Castle swear that the Veritaserum is working on me for another…five minutes, I'll let you know when it wears off," he waved his wand, sealing the wizard oath. "Time's a ticking Minister Fudge," he laughed at the man.
After composing himself for a moment, Fudge launched into his questioning. "Did you have any involvement in what happened here today?"
"Of course," James replied.
"Did you recognize the man that murdered that witch today?" Fudge continued.
"Yes, I recognized Uncle Frank as the killer," James calmly stared back to Fudge as Malfoy stiffened.
"Your Uncle is Frank Castle, who the Muggle authorities call the Punisher, a mass murderer? How did you get into the school with a name like that on your application!?" he shouted between the boy and Dumbledore.
"I was an adult when I applied, so I did not need to list any name besides my own. And yes, Frank may be a bit eccentric, but what's the harm in a few more dead criminals?" James replied back to them.
"James, surely you can't mean that, no one has the right to take the life of another," Dumbledore frowned.
"Death Eaters that escaped justice once don't deserve rights," James glared back at Dumbledore. "What about the rights of all their victims?" he glared at Dumbledore.
"Did you know beforehand what he was going to do?" Fudge continued.
"Not in time to do anything about it," James replied.
"We have witness statements from Oliver Wood and his wife, who claim he saved them from LeStrange in Diagon Alley, do you have any knowledge of this?" Fudge continued quickly.
"Never heard of Wood, no idea how the Punisher came to be in Diagon either," James shrugged.
"The boy is lying," Malfoy grunted, getting up from his seat.
"And you're a Death Eater, claiming to be under the Imperious curse during the first war," James laughed. "The potion is wearing off," James shook his head frowning. "The Punisher doesn't believe your innocence Malfoy, just some friendly advice," James chuckled before kissing Hermione. "I think this questioning is over," he yawned.
"I must agree Mr. Castle, gentlemen, if you will follow me through the floo to my office," Dumbledore agreed, rushing the three other men through the fireplace quickly. "Go to bed, all of you," he said sternly before following them into the fire.
"Goody," Luna cheered. "Come on Ronald," she clapped before forcefully dragging the boy upstairs.
A/N: Chugging along as fast as I can write between gaming and work. Figuring as my best bet goes, this will go around 30 chapters. And if I can ever figure how the forum stuff works, I might start a vote thingy, see what Xover I do next.