The Chronicles of Fayt

Chapter Thirteen: "Dead Memories"

Jason Black's POV

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

I awoke to not only the light filtering in through a crack in the curtains, but the hooting of an owl that was perched on my chest. I rubbed my eyes. Nope, still an owl on my chest. I grabbed the scroll and opened it.

Mr. Jason Black:

We have recently been informed that not only are you the victim of ex-Minister Fudge's attack but the owner of a Record-O-Sphere that documented the entire ordeal. If you feel that you are in good enough health to engage in an interview, we here at Wizarding Times would be interested in a few statements and would be happy to negogiate the time and place with Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor Flitwick and at your earliest conveince.

Wishing you a speedy recovery,

Marshall Smith

News Reporter

Well, the guy was to the point. Had to give him that much. "I'll send him a letter later. Go on." The owl hooted once and took off out the window. Who even left it open? Stupid roommates… I grumbled at my twenty minutes of lost sleep and got up and got ready. I hurried through the shower and got dressed. When I went back to my dorm room I saw another owl waiting for me. "Stupid reporters."

Mr. Blake,

You have my deepest condolences that you were so violently attacked at a place that you should feel safe at-

I stopped reading. No way would a person that starts a letter like that and who got my name wrong get the article right. I sighed and read on. She got my name wrong and couldn't bother to find out what House I was in. The other guy was to the point and researched, at least a little bit. I still want to know how they know my name. Wasn't that stuff secret? Didn't I have a few rights as a minor? Guess not. Oh well, I'd live.

I shook Neville away and pulled out a quill to start a letter to this Marshall Smith. By the time Nev was out of the shower my other dorm mates were awake and poking their noses in my business. Damian had just up and grabbed the letters and when he was done passed them along to the others.

I signed my name with a flourish before neatly printing it. "There." I said as I proudly held up my letter.

Damian grabbed it. "Yay!" He said in a stupidly happy voice. "Not only did out special friend Jason learn how to write, he learned how to write his letters in fancy joined-up letters too!" I socked him on the shoulder as all the guys laughed and snatched it up.

"You're just jealous the reporters are lining up for interviews from me, the oh-so sexy and amazing Jason Black!" I puffed out my chest proudly and struck a heroic pose.

Neville laughed before dragging me out of the dorms. "I want food and you're slow." Was his only explanation before he tugged me down the hall to the Common Room.

I walked in and James swaggered over. Yes, he swaggered. As in all cocky-like. I rolled my eyes as he started to interrogate me. "So, get any owls yet? If so, what papers and magazines? Inquiring minds wish to know."

"Yes, please, spill. How many interviews have been requested All Mighty Jason?" Hermione was being sarcastic about my greatness? So not cool. "We are all dying of curiosity."

"Your rudeness aside, two requests so far, but I'm only doing one of them. I swear, if this Rita Skeeter person kisses my ass anymore, her lips will be permanently stuck there." I shook my head and handed James the letter she'd sent me. "It's really dumb. How much more stupid can you be?"

"I don't know, and I think you're right, this lady needs to stop kissing ass. I've read her articles. She is an opportunist. If the public loves you, she showers on the praise, if the public hates you; then you are the root of all things evil. You can go from one to the other in a matter of two, maybe three days tops. You are ignoring the letter, or sending a rude reply?"

"Polite decline due to school work? Possibly a letter telling her if she wants an interview, study her material better. Mr. Blake…" I gave a dramatic sigh. "And to think, she could've met the sexy beast that does NOT go by Mr. Blake."

James laughed. Hermione glared. "Lay off the self stroking of the ego. I'm suffocating."

"I don't think he'd mind if you stroked his ego." My eyes bulged at James' blatant comment. I didn't think he'd be that rude…

"I'm not going to dignify that with a response." I choked out as Hermione gaped at him. "That, was…" I thought of a word. "Meh" Was the only thing my brain could come up with. Meh.

"Aw, come on Jason. You know you want to." James gave me puppy dog eyes.

"You are the most disturbed person I have ever met. And, no, I don't want to, I'm twelve. Girls still have cooties."

Hermione threw me a glare. "Real mature Jason. Real mature." She shook her head in disappointment before reading my letter to this Smith guy. "It's not bad. You sound older than you really are. That's always good. Of course, you throw in the signature. You are so self-absorbed. Are you aware that no, you are not God's gift to mankind?" I narrowed my eyes at her. "Truly Jason, you aren't that amazing. Stop trying to kid yourself. It's pathetic."

"You said, 'That amazing,' which means, I'm still amazing, which means you think, know that I am amazing. You said so yourself."

Hermione rolled her eyes. Neville to this opportunity to speak up. "Okay, everybody lusting after Jason even though girls have cooties aside, I want food. Send your letter after breakfast. I'm hungry."

"I'm sexy."

Hermione punched me.

~!#$%^&*()_+

I tied the two letters to Hedwig and sent her on her way. She hooted and nipped my finger before taking flight. The sad part was that it was the first letter I'd sent with her. Not having any family to write did that I guess. I watched as she took off and flew to deliver the letters.

"So, like the owl?" Neville asked.

"Yes. She's a pretty one. Useful too." I thought of something… "Hey, how do they know where to go? She just took off, no address."

Neville looked deep in thought, face scrunched up. "I don't know actually." He cocked his head to the side. "I never thought about it. They just delivered to the right person. I just grew up with it, I never questioned how."

"Hmm. Odd. You think people would wonder how and why." My eyebrows scrunched up together. "Wizards are lazy. Muggle kids always question."

"Well, duh we're lazy. We wave a wand and boom, there is our missing watch. Wave it again and dinner is cooking itself. Life's easier."

Hermione gave Neville a dumbfounded look. "Are you serious? You can just accept that as a fact of life? People can just sit around and that's okay?"

He shrugged. "Think about it. Muggles, in the past, scraped out a living. Hard manual labor. Dig the hole, plant the seed, pull the weeds, haul the water from the river and several months later you have food. Wizards just magic it there. We mix a few herbs and in a week we can grow that food. We wave our wand and shoot water at it. We have had an easier life than muggles."

She looked at him in disbelief. "You are such a jerk Neville. I can't believe you just accept everything the way it is. Ever heard of change?"

"Umm, yeah, at the store. Listen Hermione, I know muggles like the biggest best thing out there and they want it now, but wizards are okay with what we have. We've used the same spells for a hundred years. Things are okay the way they are." Neville looked a little pitiful. "Some things aren't meant to change. People aren't ready for it. Until the way things are now doesn't work, that's the way it'll be."

"It isn't working Neville. Can't you see that? Look how Fudge was acting!"

"He's out of office now."

My 'My friends are about to get in a fight that will leave Neville crying' senses are tingling. (I need a new name for my senses, huh?) Time to run interference. "Hey, arguing now won't change a thing guys. Let it rest. Be a political activist Hermione. Change things then and leave poor Neville alone."

"See. Jason's right. Try and bang sense into people's heads at a later date and leave me alone." Neville nodded. "That's why he's a Ravenclaw."

"Because he protects you?"

"Yup."

~!#$%^&*()_+

I got the reply from Marshall Smith almost immediately. Well, I got it the next day at breakfast and that's pretty good. I unfurled the tightly wound scroll of parchment and the owl took off.

Mr. Black:

I spoke with both Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor Flitwick and they have informed me that they would be willing to grant you a one day pass to Hogsmeade this coming weekend since the older students are going anyway. I was thinking we could meet at The Three Broomsticks at about noon. Please send your owl with a reply at your earliest convenience.

Marshall Smith

News Reporter

"Marshall Smith wants to meet me this weekend at The Three Broomsticks. Dumbledore and Flitwick arranged it."

James looked over. "Only accept if he buys both of us lunch."

I gave him a weird look. "Who said you're coming?"

"I did that's who you little shrimp. I'm going to be there to make sure he doesn't ask any bad or leading questions that can screw over the case against Fudge. Besides, I want free food. Accept on the condition he buys lunch." James gave me a stern look.

"Buy your own food you moocher. Stupid cheap poor people!" I elbowed him in the gut and he pulled me into a head lock and tried to choke me. I reached behind him and tried to punch him in the kidney. "Get off you great big idiotic oaf!" I said as I continued to punch him. "I'm telling! You can't beat on me I'm smaller than you!" I tried to beat him with my fists as I flailed blindly.

"Ow that hurts!" He whined as I continued to smack him.

"Then let me go!"

"Mr. Black, Mr. Thompson." I heard Flitwick from behind us.

"Hey Professor. I was just teaching Jason here that it is a bad idea to disagree with his publicity agent. He thought it was a good idea to disagree with me."

"Your behavior is most unbecoming."

"His smell is too." I added helpfully and a couple of people laughed.

Flitwick chuckled. "If you would release him." I pulled free of James's evil clutches. "Now, I believe that letter is from a Mr. Smith?"I nodded and handed him the scroll. He quickly read it. "If you have no qualms with the time? I can assure you the place is satisfactory."

"I've got no problems with that."

He smiled at me. "Very good. I believe that Professor Dumbledore would like to set up a room there, you never know who is listening in. Must be careful. Tell Mr. Smith we are taking care of that bit."

"Will do professor."

"Also, after classes, stop by the Headmasters office today, the Aurors wish to get your statements. They'll be speaking with the Headmaster and will be waiting for you to arrive. Might want to make a copy of that sphere for they will surely want the original. You can't tamper with that one without it turning red."

"Alright, but, will it be acceptable if I keep the original and they make the copy themselves? Or if I just, play the original in court?"

"Possibly, I don't know though. Good thinking though. Keep that up and you may very well join the Aurors or Unspeakables one day." What was with people? I'm a first year!

"Thanks. Kingsley Shacklebolt said something to me as well."

"Maybe you should really considerate then. Seems people think you've got what it takes boy, there's actually a girl in her seventh year here that will probably join the Aurors. Bit of an odd one but a brilliant mind. Nymphadora Tonks. One of the better Ravenclaws I've had the pleasure of teaching. Her mother was quite smart too. I wouldn't be surprised to see her making the papers one day. Like I said, she's a brilliant girl. She'll do great things one day." Flitwick looked pretty proud. I wonder how prestigious this Auror stuff was. "But, that's irrelevant to us right now. Keep in mind the Aurors, they're always looking for bright young recruits."

"Will do professor. I'll also get that letter out soon as well."

"Good. I'll see you in half an hour then Mr. Black." Flitwick went to return to the staff table.

"Oi!" James called down the table. "Nymmy!" A girl with shockingly orange hair that I'd seen around but never talked to turned and flipped him off.

"Whadda want Thompson you great big prat?"

"Aw, come on love! You know you want me!" She flipped him off again. "Don't be like that! I just wanted to tell you that Flitwick was going off again about his brilliant little freak!" He laughed as she scowled and rubbed her face. "Admit it, you love how all the teachers love you! Especially Flitwick. He was telling the ickle firsties about how much he loves his little future Auror in training!"

"Shut it Thompson or you won't be the only person stuck to the ceiling!"

"Was that a threat Nymmy?"

"I don't know, do you have a death wish?" What was her issue…?

"Mmm, I dunno. I'll answer you after I finish my food. I'm hungry. Just, give me a moment to enjoy my hash browns-"

"Call me Nymmy one more time and I'll stick your tongue to the roof of your mouth."

"So violent! But, what happened to killing me? Denying me food is mean but not life threatening. They would remove the spell before I died."

"Would you prefer if I hacked you 'wand' off with rusty knife?"

James looked thoughtful. "Oddly enough, no, I'd prefer the tongue to roof of mouth spell to you getting anywhere near that area with a rusty knife."

She flipped him off before returning to her food. "Something I'm missing?"

James shrugged. "She thinks I cheated on her with some idiotic Slytherin trying to break us up. Even if she is pretty damn sure it's not true she has too much pride to admit she was wrong. I mess with her at every turn and make sure she knows that she was a bitch for no reason."

"Is that why you have no girlfriend?"

"Hmm, you may possibly be onto something there. You never know. It may also be that they are intimidated by my combination of charm, wit and good looks."

I rolled my eyes. "That must be it, who doesn't love vengeful, spiteful men who verbally attack ex-girlfriends?"

"I am not always mean to exs. Umm, right there." He pointed to a good looking blond girl at the Hufflepuff table. "Hey, Chris!" He called. The girl turned. "Am I a jerk to all of my exs?"

"No, only Tonks. Why?" Wow… somebody defended James. I'll remember this moment forever.

"He doesn't think that I'm nice to my ex-girlfriends."

"No, he's fine, sadly though, I did, for an as of yet unknown reason, date him. I broke it off and he was fine. I think his issue is he was called a cheater. He may be an idiot but he doesn't cheat."

"See, I'm perfectly nice if you just break up with me-"

"I'll keep that in mind for when I dump you."

"Shut it pipsqueak. Like I was saying, I don't like it if girls call me a cheater. I may be a man-whore but I only date one at a time. I have some morals."

"Very few, but some."

"Exactly. Now, I think you said something about free food at The Three Broomsticks."

~!#$%^&*()_+

As I am by nature a lazy person and due to the fact that nobody asked any questions I am not bothering to type replies here. On a side note, cyiusblack, ^^* and callie258, my three reviewers, you are all awesome.

If you can tell I am so subtly setting things up. Very subtly. As in so subtle, I had Voldemort demasked in front of a full hall of people, Fudge halled away screaming by Aurors as Jason recorded it and Jason setting up interviews. If you can tell what I am doing, please guess in a review. If you guess right I may or may not tell you where I am going.

I'm shocked with myself. Planning ahead… who whudda thunk it?