Chapter 9: Laveau School of Magic
Harry Potter and Jacob Brown walked down main street in Mandeville, Louisiana, the northern shore of Lake Pontchartrain glittering in the morning sun.
"Are you sure that you can find this place?" Harry asked, thinking it seemed like a rather muggle place for a school of magic.
"Most American schools don't need the anti-muggle protection that Hogwarts requires," Brown said, picking up on the reason for Harry's comment. "And any school of magic can be found, all you have to do is know the town that supplies it. In this case Mandeville, Louisiana."
"Oh yeah, what town supplies your school?" Harry teased.
"Naumkeag?" Brown asked. He grinned, "That would be Salem, Massachusetts. And Marshall is in Coloma, California if you're interested.
The two wizards came upon a small college on the lake shore. The gate was being guarded by the security guard from the duels. "This is it?" Harry asked, a little disappointed. Brown only smiled as they arrived at the gate.
"Mr. Potter, it is a delight to see you. Headmaster Rodriguez is waiting for you. Please follow me," he said as the gate opened for them. "Mr. Brown, you will have to wait outside. The Ministry is not welcome here."
"How can we improve our relationship if you won't talk to us?" he asked.
"Hire a graduate and we'll talk," the guard replied before turning his back and leading Harry into the school grounds.
The grounds were much more beautiful inside the gate than they looked from the outside. There were magical plants growing in gardens all around the complex surrounding lush green lawns. Seven Greek style buildings littered the grounds as students rushed from building to building talking eagerly to themselves. Mermaids were playing on the surface of the lake.
"Impressed?" the guard asked, studying Harry's expression.
"Not what I'm used to," Harry said, "but yes, impressive."
"Not much here will be what you're used to," the guard said. "We do things differently."
They entered the oldest and largest building. As they entered the door, Harry became aware that they were entering an entirely new world. The foyer reminded Harry of divination during his fifth year. The floor was marble, with lush trees and bushes growing out of the floor, toward the ceiling which was definitely not that high outside. Each door along the walls displayed a different type of building. There was a door surrounded by a teepee, a door in a hut at the end of a long dock surrounded by a swamp, a door which looked like a medieval castle drawbridge, a door which featured a large greenhouse full of more magical plants and finally a door which was surrounded by the brick walls that Harry recognized from outside. This door was open and a man was standing in it.
"Impressive, no?" the man said. "Greetings, I am Mr. Rodriguez. Thank you, professor, for escorting him." The guard bowed and left Harry with the headmaster who motioned Harry inside his office.
"Let's dispense with the disguise Mr. Potter. I know who you are, I know where you work and I know that your youngest child is in his fifth year at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where you are a governor. You have no interest in having a child attend this school." He took a seat behind his desk and motioned Harry to the chair in front of it. "So, why are you here and why the lie?"
"Secretary Brown thought that you wouldn't help the Ministry," Harry said, answering the second question while ignoring the first.
"And we would not help the American Ministry. However, we have no disagreement with the British one. I would be honored to help you in any way I can. But why are you here, Mr. Potter?"
Harry sighed. "We are investigating Adam Travers. We believe he might be involved in a crime recently committed in Godric's Hollow. I am interested in learning more about him and was hoping to speak to his teachers."
Rodriguez's expression became sterner. "Mr. Travers is a respected alumnus of this school and the chair of the Board of Trustees. He donates the money which pays for half this school's operations. If he found out I helped you with this, the school could be in serious trouble."
"Well, thanks anyway," Harry said, getting up.
"Wait," Rodriguez said. "What exactly do you think he did?"
Harry decided that the truth was the best right now. "We have eyewitnesses who claim he is responsible for the grave robberies which have plagued this country and mine the past 10 months."
"Any chance the eyewitness could be lying?" Rodriguez asked hopefully.
"No," Harry said. "The eyewitnesses are 6 members of the British ministry, including myself. We heard him say it when we rescued my son, whom Travers kidnapped last year. I've been chasing him ever since."
Rodriguez looked like he had been hit in the face by a boulder. "Adam couldn't, Adam wouldn't," he said softly, shaking his head.
"Are you sure?" Harry asked, standing up.
Rodriguez just sat there and Harry let him think. "Mr. Potter, I want to help you. If Adam has done these things, he must be stopped. But what can I do? We don't even know where he is."
"I am only here to learn about his childhood. Are any of his teachers still here?"
Rodriguez seemed to gain a sudden burst of energy. He turned and tapped a file cabinet behind him with his wand. A large file popped out of a slot in the middle of the drawer. Harry was reminded of a muggle vending machine. Rodriguez opened the file and scanned the front page. "Yes," he said. "Only one. His voodoo teacher, Marie Laveau."
"Laveau?" Harry asked suspiciously.
Rodriguez nodded, "The school's founder, yes. I'll take you to her. If anyone knows Adam Travers, it would be her. He is still the last person to focus on voodoo here, most go for the Native magic."
"Native magic?" Harry asked as they left the office.
Rodriguez motioned to the different doors. "This is our alternative magic building, our calling card after the end of the Civil War. Each door leads to a class taught by a specialist in a certain type of magic. Native magic is taught by a Native American shaman."
They exited back onto the grounds and headed for the lake. "What magic would Travers know?" Harry asked.
"Our students learn traditional wand magic, but they also take all kinds of alternatives their first two years and then they specialize in one for their remaining time here. Adam would have a basic knowledge of native magic, ancient and medieval chants, and extensive knowledge of both wand magic and voodoo. He seems to have focused on expanding his knowledge of wand magic after school."
They rounded the last building and turned for the beach. Harry noticed a large dock leading out to a wooden mansion floating about 100 feet into the lake. Rodriguez headed straight for it and went in. The building opened to an entryway lit by several candles which were strategically placed along the walls. It was strangely peaceful in the room. Rodriguez smiled. "What you expected?"
"No," Harry replied, "I expected dark and creepy."
"That is the stereotype," said an elderly woman who had just entered the room.
"Madam Laveau," Rodriguez said, bowing and motioning for Harry to do the same. "Mr. Harry Potter wishes to speak with you about one of our former students."
She glanced at Harry, but he felt in that moment that she had examined everything about him. He made a metal note to make sure he didn't leave any piece of clothing behind. Laveau chuckled. "I do not need clothing, Mr. Potter. But you need not fear me, I will not curse you."
Rodriguez conjured a recliner and she sat down. "You wish to speak to me about young Mr. Travers, yes?" She laughed again. "Please Mr. Potter, have a seat," she said as a chair appeared behind Harry, "you look like you just saw a ghost. You need not fear me."
"I did just see a ghost," Harry thought. In fact, Dobby had just reappeared behind Laveau and he was making motions telling him to hurry up.
"I was curious what you taught Travers to do," Harry said, trying to keep his voice calm.
"Much Mr. Potter, but not all that I know. I do not know what he has learned after he left. He has not had much to do with me over the last few years." She turned and looked behind her and reached out toward where Dobby was standing. He looked petrified. "Come here sweet thing. Tell us what you have to say."
Dobby stood stunned for a few seconds before he cautiously took her hand. She began to chant softly, and Harry noticed that as she did, Dobby's body began to get more and more defined. He also noticed that Rodriguez was officially getting freaked out.
"Mr. Potter, I have no doubt that Travers is behind the grave robberies," she said, the chanting continuing on its own. "It is an ancient voodoo spell which brings a ghost back to life, and Mr. Travers was trying to figure out a way to extend it to those souls who had gone on. It was why we fell out of contact, I disagreed with doing this. I wish I could help you more. Now, what did you want to say?" she asked, turning to Dobby.
Dobby cautiously walked around her chair, trying out legs which hadn't walked in over twenty years. Dobby turned to Harry, "Mr. Harry Potter sir, you must leave at once sir. The dead are moving sir, they are ready to attack!"
"Attack, attack where?" Rodriguez said, seemingly waking from a trace.
"Marshall, sir," Dobby said.
Rodriguez's eyes widened in shock, "Of course! Travers! He has been insisting on an increased focus on the duels."
Laveau nodded agreement, "Now he is taking the duels into the real world."
"I will warn the Ministry," Rodriguez said. "I'll be fired for helping," he mumbled.
"Thank you, I will mobilize the British forces and get there as soon as I can. Dobby, can you lead me there?" Harry said.
"Of course," Dobby said.
"I will put out a call to the students. Perhaps some will be willing to help our brother witches and wizards," Laveau said. And with that, the three of them went their separate ways, Dobby following Harry.
Jacob Brown arrived outside his office about twenty minutes after leaving Harry. "Good morning sir," his secretary said as he entered the Law Enforcement Wing. "You have a visitor, sir. An Ignotus Perevell."
Brown cautiously approached his meeting room pulling out his wand. He recognized the name from a grave at Godric's Hollow. The man was tall, slender and facing him as he entered the room. He smiled upon seeing the wand. "You do not need to fear me Mr. Brown. I am not thy enemy." He laughed and added, "I apologize for my language, I have several centuries of catching up to do."
"You're one of them," Brown said, not putting away his wand.
Perevell shook his head, "I was raised at Godric's Hollow. I have been with the army since then, but I am not one of them. I am Death's response. Death forced my soul back, along with Grindelwald's. Thus he created a spy and conflict in the army."
"Why doesn't Death just kill Travers?" Brown asked.
Perevell laughed. "It does not work like that Mr. Brown. Death cannot actively intervene in the world's affairs; he must be more cunning in his actions. But that is not why I'm here today. I'm here to fulfill my role as your spy. The army is moving. We just crossed the border into California, on our way to attack Marshall School of Alchemy and Magic. If you're going to stop them, you need to leave now." And with that, Perevell faded and was gone.
Brown stood still for several minutes, not sure what to think. Finally he grabbed a piece of paper, tapped it with his wand and said "Sound the alarm, Marshall." The words appeared on the paper which folded into a plane and flew off to the President's office. Then he rushed out into the map room to gather what forces he could.