Chapter 12: Some Answers and More Questions

Jenifer Jordan awoke a little before six in the morning. From the sounds coming from downstairs, she knew that her family was also awake, and that they were not alone. Dressing quickly, the young witch sprinted downstairs and into the kitchen where she saw her parents and her little brother sitting at the kitchen table joined by three very familiar faces. Jenny broke into a wide, ten-year-old's grin when she saw who they were. "Mr. and Mrs. Lovegood! When did you and Luna get here?"

"Good morning, Jennifer!" said Xenophilius Lovegood, matching Jenny's grin with one of his own. "Your father picked us up from the Floo-Hearth Terminal a little after midnight."

Pandora Lovegood smiled too, and added, "Good morning, Jenny! I understand that today is your first day at your new school. I hope that you've had a good night's sleep!"

"It would be nice if one of us did," said her father. Ren Jordan took a sip of coffee from his "World's Greatest Dad" mug that Jenny had gotten for him last Fathers' Day. "I barely slept all night. The furnace kept kicking on every ten minutes and ran for thirty at a time." Ren sighed, dreading their first gas bill. "But I'm glad that you're up and dressed, already. We've all got a busy day, today."

Jenny's mom added, "I'm leaving for Collinsport today, Jenny, to get some of our things. I will be driving back in your dad's car and should be back here next Monday night. Your dad's taking me to the airport after we drop you off at school. Then he and Mr. Lovegood will have some business to attend to while Mrs. Lovegood watches Luna and Ricky."

Pandora said, "And to help make things easier for your parents, I've taken the liberty of preparing breakfast!"

Jenny sat down, joining her family and the Lovegoods. The breakfast that Mrs. Lovegood had made for them consisted of a bowl of muesli with skim milk, yogurt with fresh fruit, and wholemeal toast topped with something called Daylesford Organic Christmas Marmalade that came in a glass jar with a glass lid held in place by a lock made from shaped metal rod. Though not her mom's usual bacon, eggs and hash browns, Jenny had to admit that it was very good. She hoped that the Lovegoods brought more of the marmalade; Jenny could not wait to try some on a peanut butter sandwich.

After breakfast, Jenny got cleaned up, and then joined her parents and her little brother for the short drive to Stonewall Elementary. When they got there, the Jordans accompanied Jenny to the office to meet with Principal Burr, and Jenny's new teacher, Miss Sherman. After a quick orientation, Miss Sherman said she would give Jenny a tour of the school before bringing her to her new classroom.

Ren and Aggie gave their daughter a big hug, and then Jenny's father said that he would be there to pick her up when class was dismissed for the day. Jenny's mom assured her that she would see her again after school on Monday when she returned from Collinsport. Then Jenny kissed Ricky goodbye, and said that she would see him later.

"Please be sure to get my favorite earrings," said Jenny. She had gotten them the year before for her birthday from her best friend Karen, when her parents allowed her to get her ears pierced. "They aren't in my jewelry box; I had them set out on my dresser to put on the next day before we had to, well . . . ." Aggie nodded as her daughter's voice trailed off, and promised her daughter that she would put them in her purse first thing when she got to their old home in Collinsport.

Aggie then gave Jenny a few dollars. "This is for your lunches today, tomorrow and Monday. Come Tuesday, you start brown bagging." After another group hug, Ren, Aggie and Ricky left for Lambert Airport.

Miss Sherman smiled at Jenny. "I think that you will like Stonewall Elementary, Jenny. Now let me show you around the school before we go to your new classroom . . . ."

After seeing Aggie off at Lambert Airport, Ren and Ricky returned to their new home in University City where the Lovegoods were waiting for them. Taking Ren's and Aggie's suggestions, Xenophilius Lovegood had dressed in an approximation of local muggle style in trousers, a button-down long-sleeve shirt, a necktie and a jacket. As a final touch, he wore a blank press pass on the jacket pocket that was enchanted to show that he was a reporter for a British Science Journal so Xeno would not have to hide his accent. It was not important which Journal as the pass was also enchanted to keep anyone from scrutinizing it for too long.

Dori Lovegood compared her husband's muggle dress to the clothes worn by Ren Jordan. The American wizard wore jeans and a long-sleeve sweatshirt emblazoned with the words "Collinsport High School Vampires / Varsity Basketball." It was what Ren had been wearing when the Order to Evacuate was issued. When Dori asked about the difference, Ren said that he was "only the driver" that was hired to shuttle the visitor from abroad, and not a reporter, himself.

Then Ren said goodbye to his young son. Though little Ricky seemed to understand that his mother would be coming back home in a few days, he still fussed and cried when his father said that he and Mr. Lovegood had some errands to run and that Mrs. Lovegood would watch him until they returned. Even though Ren assured him that he would be back before lunch, the little boy cried harder, holding on to his father for dear life. But then Dori came to the rescue. She smiled at the young wizard and sang to him, calming him down.

"The grownup men have something important to do, Ricky. Until they come back in a few hours, how about helping me take care of my daughter Luna? Now, why don't you give your father a big hug and kiss and he will be back before you know it!" After getting a hug that nearly cut off his circulation, Ren and Xeno were out the door and on the road.

"Where to first, Xeno?" said Ren as he eased the Studebaker into traffic. But Xeno was distracted by the sights and sounds around him. "Don't tell me that this is your first time in a car, Xeno? Or is it just your first time in a 1953 Studebaker Starlight Coup?"

"Oh, I've been in cars a few times before now, Ren," said Xeno. "Mostly Taxicabs when I had business in London. But it is odd that I am sitting in what would normally be the driver's seat for me and that we are traveling on the opposite side of the road. As for our destination, I think it would be prudent to begin our investigation at the Washington University Department of Physics."

Ren thought as much and nodded, checked his directions again, and eased the car onto Pershing Blvd. Xeno watched Ren as he drove. Then something hit him. "Is your car enchanted to shift gears without you moving the lever on the steering wheel?"

"Oh, no. The transmission is automatic. It shifts on its own. I never learned how to drive stick. It's the same with my Avanti."

The two wizards arrived at Washington University in twenty minutes. It was almost 10:30 am when they arrived, and were directed to the Department of Physics at Compton Hall by a young co-ed who could not help but comment on Xeno's "cute accent" as Ren rolled his eyes.

"According to my notes, we need to speak with a Professor Vernell Roberts," said Xeno. "He's the leader of the team working on the extra-dimensional research project." Ren nodded and followed Xeno as they came to Professor Roberts' office. When they got there, they were surprised to see that not only was the door locked, but that it was sealed by several strips of barricade tape reading "Crime Scene – Do Not Enter."

Before either of them could comment, a young man whose appearance just screamed Graduate Student was walking down the hall. Xeno said, "Excuse me, sir. Might we ask you a few questions?"

The man shrugged, and said, "I guess. But I told your colleagues everything that I knew about Professor Roberts this morning."

"Excuse me?" said Ren. "Who do you think we are?"

"Uh, more detectives . . . ?" said the man.

Xeno said, "No, we are not the police. We are journalists. Or rather, I'm a journalist from the UK, and this is my driver. I was sent here by my Scientific Journal to interview your Professor Roberts; though it would appear that I have come at a most inopportune time. Can you tell me if the Professor is hale and hearty?"

"Hale and . . . ?" said the young man quizzically. "Do you mean is the Professor well? Actually, nobody knows. We have been unable to contact him for the past week. He does not answer his telephone or pager and nobody has seen him at his apartment. I checked a few days ago, and his mail is piling up. And what with that fire last week at the off-campus site that he was working at . . . ."

"Fire . . . ?" Xeno gestured to the locked, sealed door and said, "I take it then that foul-play is suspected?"

"The Professor was working on a very important project," said the young man shrugging. "I guess that the cops aren't ruling anything out. But if you will excuse me, I have to grade some papers for my Professor. Have a nice day." Without waiting for a reply, the young man continued down the hall.

Xeno looked at the sealed door and said, "I think that we may need a locator spell, Ren . . . ."

Ren's eyes widened. "Oh, hey, Xeno, you're not thinking about doing what I think you are about to do . . . ?"

Xeno nodded solemnly. "We absolutely must find Professor Roberts, now. And the only way to do that is to obtain a personal item of his. And his office is full of items that may be used to find him." Before Ren could say anything else, Xenophilius Lovegood glanced down the hallway in both directions, removed his wand and said, "Alohomora." At Xeno's command, the door unlocked and the Crime Scene Tape moved aside. Without any further hesitation, Xeno stepped into the Professor's office with Ren closely behind him.

"Have you blown a gasket, Xeno?" hissed Ren. The American wizard brushed his hair back with his hand and the door resealed behind them. "Do you have any idea what the FBS does to wizards who use magic to commit crimes? If we get caught –"

"If . . . ." Allowed Xeno nodding grimly. "But I am more worried about what might happen if we don't locate the missing Professor before whoever he may be trying to avoid finds him first."

"Fine," said Ren. "But just so you know, we could both end up doing time at Miskatonic Penitentiary. And from what I hear, it would make your Azkaban look like Disneyland by comparison!"

Xeno shook his head. "We have to do this, Ren. I believe that your muggle authorities will be looking in the wrong places for the wrong things. And your FBS has its hands full with the Incursion, and are spread very thin as a result. We need to speak with Professor Roberts. That is if the Malfoys or their proxies have not found him first . . . ."

Xeno studied the Professor's desk. It was cluttered in a sort of organised disoranisation that one would expect of a muggle science boffin. There were so many personal items to choose from that Xeno was having a hard time deciding what would work best with a locator spell. Then his eyes fell on a small framed photograph on the desk. It was a photograph of the Professor sitting in a comfortable chair holding a little girl about the same age as Ren's son. Xeno nodded to Ren and removed the photograph from its frame.

Ren said, "Let me cast a disillusionment charm to cover our exit from the Professor's office. You do the alohomora spell to get us out."

Moments later, the two wizards were back in Ren's car. Xeno said, "I hope you have the ingredients we need to perform the locator spell back at your new home, Ren."

"I don't," said Ren. "All of my potions and reagents are back in my workshop in Maine. That is, if they were not already boxed-up and moved to a safe location by S.H.I.E.L.D. agents working with the FBS. Heck, I don't even know where the local Apothecary Shop is here in U-City. We just got here last night, you know."

"Well, we need to find it," said Xeno.

Ren checked his watch, thought for a moment, and said, "Let's go back to the house. Our first delivery of Owl Post should have arrived by now. And I'm betting that it will include a list of all wizarding businesses in the area, including the local Apothecary."

When Ren and Xeno got back to the house a little before noon, they saw that the Owl Post had indeed arrived, and that it included a flyer from the Apothecary that included a map and driving directions. Ricky had just finished eating, and squealed with delight when he saw that his father had returned, and ran straight for him. Ren scooped his son up in a smooth motion, giving him a good hug and a barrage of kisses that made the boy giggle uncontrollably.

As this was going on, Xeno perused the rest of the mail, noting advertisements for other local wizarding establishments. There was a letter for Jenny from someone named Karen Minoru, and a copy of The Towne Scryer; the American answer to the UK's Daily Prophet. Naturally, the Maine Incursion was the front-page story (with the latest news about The Boy Who Lived relegated to the gossip page.) As for the rest of the Jordan's mail . . . .

Xeno sighed. The rest of the mail appeared to be pamphlets and tracts from various Wizarding "organisations" such as the Magical Sons of the Confederacy, the Illuminated Brethren of the Ebon Night, and the Brotherhood of the Shadowed Path. All included membership application forms.

Xeno shook his head. Whenever some crisis arose, either natural, magical or muggle, the Wizarding Separatist / Supremacist groups came out of the woodwork, trolling for new members. All insisting that the world would be a better place if "we" were the ones in charge. And while these groups did not appear to be obsessed with "blood-purity," they did preach a message of Wizarding Superiority that was not too different from that of the Death Eaters or the Knights of Walpurgis. Xeno felt sorry for Ren. The Quibbler ran an expose on groups like these a few years back. And from his and Pandora's research, Xeno knew that these groups took a "hard-sell" approach to their ideology.

But for now, there was work to be done. While they were away, Dori had made a wonderful carrot and coriander soup with warm, wholemeal bread. The two wizards took their time to enjoy it while they planned their next move. After putting Luna down for her nap, Dori joined them at the table. Ren said that he had never had soup like this before, and asked Dori to give Aggie the recipe before the Lovegoods returned to the UK.

"Our first stop should be the Apothecary," said Xeno thoughtfully. "And then, we go wherever the locator spell takes us."

"So long as it is not too far away from here," said Dori. "I'm given to understand that muggle automobiles have a limited range."

"If it's further than thirty miles or so, we'll have to use a Floo Terminal," said Ren. "I will need to pick Jenny up when school lets out at three."

"We'll at least be able to go to the Apothecary Shop after lunch," said Xeno. "As well as cast the spell to find out where our missing Professor is hiding."

Ren nodded in agreement and the two wizards got ready to leave. But Ricky started fussing, holding on to his father's leg for dear life. Ren said, "You know, Xeno, why don't we take Ricky with us. Give the ladies a chance to have some time to themselves." Ricky was still in his pajamas, so it took a few moments to get the little boy dressed; especially now that he was all excited about going with his dad. Ren put his son into the car seat in back of the '53 Stude, and the three wizards drove off to the Apothecary Shop.

The Apothecary Shop was a small hole-in-the-wall place on Delmar Blvd. not too far from where the Jordans now lived. The proprietor was an older wizard dressed in jeans and a blue flannel shirt named Aldo Ansaldo. As with Mr. Morris, Aldo was a graduate of Hogwarts and had been in Ravenclaw House, though Xeno was not even born when he graduated. The two men spoke a little about that while Ren held Ricky and looked on.

"I had heard that Professor Dumbledore became Headmaster after Professor Dippet retired," said Aldo. "Does Professor McGonagall still teach Transfigurations?"

"Yes, she does," said Xeno.

"How about Potions?" said Aldo. "Is Professor Slughorn still in that position? He was my favorite teacher, as you may well imagine."

"Actually, he recently retired," said Xeno. "The current teacher is a relatively young wizard named Professor Snape. Supposedly, he was one of Professor Slughorn's best students . . . ."

The conversation went on for several more minutes before Aldo asked what he could do for them. "We need to cast a locator spell and we need all of the ingredients."

"All of them?" said Aldo quizzically. "Pretty unusual to have run out of everything at once."

Ren shifted Ricky, and said, "All I have is still back where we used to live, in Collinsport . . . ."

"Ah," said Aldo nodding as he gave Ren a more thorough once-over. "All is clear. You know, I had just made myself some eggplant parmigiana for dinner and was going to watch some television when the WWN had first broadcast the news about the Incursion from the Enchanted Realms. Did everyone you know get out alright?"

Ren nodded. Since the Jordans left Maine, every wizard and witch that he spoke with could tell him exactly what they were doing when they first heard the news that the largest incursion from the Enchanted Realms had arrived in our world. "We're now living a few miles away from here in U-City. My wife went back to Collinsport yesterday to get some of our things."

"My late wife was also a muggle," said Aldo nodding sadly. The Apothecary then waved to Ricky. "So, is this young man your only child?"

"No, we have a ten-year-old daughter named Jenny who is going to Stonewall Elementary."

"No kidding, that's where I went until Fifth Grade, before I went to Hogwarts!" Aldo smiled, and then added, more seriously, "So, I guess your Jenny is the only witch at Stonewall?"

Ren nodded. "We're only a few blocks away from Stonewall. Close enough for her to walk to school, weather permitting."

"Well, say no more," said Aldo. The Apothecary reached under the counter and removed a wrapped package. "Locator Spell Kit. Enough for five spells; it's just the thing for any parent of school-aged children who walk to school!"

Xeno insisted on paying for the kit, and after a few more moments of conversation, the two men and the toddler were back in the car, and on their way back to the Jordan's house. Xeno took out the photograph of Professor Roberts, and said, "Let Dori and me cast the spell while you watch Ricky and Luna." Ren nodded. He had never cast a locator spell, before. But by brushing back his hair and saying, "wingardium leviosa," he had a ball hovering around the room that had Ricky giggling as he tried to catch it from the air and had Luna following it with her wide, pretty eyes.

About twenty minutes later, the Lovegoods came back into the living room. Xeno said, "We're in luck, Ren. According to the spell, Professor Roberts is only about ten miles away from here."

Ren checked his watch. It was almost time to pick up Jenny. Xeno said, "Why don't we go see the professor after we get Jenny from school?" Ren shook his head, telling the Lovegoods about something muggles called "rush hour." Xeno then suggested that they try to speak with Professor Roberts after dinner. A short time later, Ren Jordan and his son went to pick up Jenny from school, hoping that she had a good day, and that she would like the surprise that he had for her when she got home.