Witch Way, part 4.
* Malfoy Manor *
Lucius Malfoy reread the latest letter from Draco, once again forcing down the desire to correct spelling, and considered exactly what had gone wrong with Draco's upbringing. Had Narcissa spoiled him? Had he spoiled the child? Was he simply not up to the tasks assigned him? Perhaps he'd been dropped on his head at some point?
Admittedly, he himself had a temper. It was a flaw, but he normally controlled it. Made use of it by directing it at specific goals.
Then he went to the paper and reread THAT.
A way of removing curses, the arithmancy being quite involved, and an adaptation of methods used abroad.
There were doors that were opened by having the Dark Mark, yet other doors could end up closed by the same method. If he were to remove the Dark Mark, explain it away as a "youthful indiscretion" or some such, would it be a plus or a minus? Would it be a business boon or loss?
More interesting were some of the other things this "Hebert" girl had come up with. Genius, obviously. Old family, or should that be 'Old Family'? Dark and with a certain reputation for ruthless efficiency when dealing with problems. According to one of his other spies among the students, the girl was called in twice now to speak with the Unspeakables over at the Department of Mysteries. So she was old-school Slytherin despite being in Hufflepuff, and building connections and reputation.
A short burst of mirth escaped him at the thought of getting this 'Taylor Hebert' together with Draco. While she would cover for his inadequacies more than enough, Draco would be unlikely to manage to hold his own in such a relationship. He still had SOME hopes for his child.
After a few minutes, Lucius lifted an eyebrow and jotted out a quick letter of inquiry to send. Just the tiniest introduction and producing the idea that an alliance could be made. It might be mutually beneficial after all.
After the debacle in that graveyard, further plans for the future needed to be... more circumspect.
* Hogwarts Great Hall *
"They seriously tried to get Harry for Underage Use Of Magic?" asked Ron.
"Since he was staying with Lord Black at the time, I don't know what he was thinking. Did you hear about how his old home was hit the same night? Sounded like Dementors - cold and depressing wraith-like shapes. Apparently some squib named Arabella Figg lost three cats while she barricaded herself behind some wards." Hermione tapped the copy of the Daily Prophet.
"I thought Dementors didn't affect animals," mused Ginny from her position down the table. "Pass the muffins please."
"Razzleberry today, quite tasty," offered Hermione as she passed the basket.
"Where IS Harry anyway?" asked Ron, drawing a few protests as he still had quite a lot of food in his mouth.
"Harry ate early, he's working on something with Taylor." Hermione shrugged. She'd worm the details out of Harry later. "Any hopes regarding the new Defense Professor?"
"Only that we're hoping she finds other work far away from here? No, not so much," admitted one of the Weasley Twins.
* Hogwarts *
It was a dark and stormy night.
It was winter in the Scottish Highlands. This was not terribly unusual.
"So we use the spell 'Abscinde Malum' as the go-to when confronted by something unequivocally evil," said Albus Dumbledore as he stood before the assembled witches and wizards. "The spell is useless against a number of creatures thought of as dark such as a boggart or a pixie. Experiments by Aurors have revealed the spell is like a hot poker when levied against a Dementor - driving them back but less effective in that regard than a Patronus. As not everyone can cast a Patronus, I have decided to teach the Order the spell. Requiring quite a bit more preparation and finesse is the spell Akuryo Taisan, which is also more effective against Dark creatures like the Dementors while remaining ineffective against a dragon or gryphon and such non-Dark creatures. Though some creatures are stunned for a few seconds by it instead of outright harmed. Yes, Alistair?"
"These were all that Hebert girl's work?" asked Alistair Moody.
"Yes, in the case of 'Abscinde Malum' or the Dark Rebuke spell. The 'Akuryo Taisan' is the spell that certain Japanese Auror-equivelants use when facing their own creatures of Dark Magic," explained Albus Dumbledore.
"She's the one who anticipated something happening and took steps to protect the Potter boy and ended up with this crazy muggle getting involved?" asked Alistair Moody, his artificial eye spinning about.
"That's the current theory, investigation revealed that she was shocked to see the redhead and apparently did not believe that anyone would be summoned," said Albus Dumbledore.
"She's also the one who noted that the fake Moody was indeed fake," said Minerva McGonagall.
"If she joins the Aurors, I want to train her, she could be formidable," said Alistair with a brief if ghastly-looking smile.
"I haven't confirmed, but I suspect a number of people have completed Animagus training due to her," said Minerva after that. "Using either the South African or Native Tribes American method as she received correspondence from both."
"Who all do you suspect have Animagus forms?" asked Dumbledore, somewhat pleased at the resourcefulness if a bit concerned at the potential for mischief.
"At least one of the Weasley Twins because one of them was sighted in the presence of an Irish Setter dog going for an evening stroll. Miss Granger, Miss Greengrass, and the Ravenclaw Miss Patil. Cho Chang is definitely one as she registered as an Animagus with the form of a raven."
"How appropriate for a Ravenclaw," said Dumbledore.
"Ron Weasley may be the ginger-haired cat spotted in the corridors leading to the kitchens," said McGonagall with a smirk. "If Harry Potter is one, he has been successful in concealing that fact. Though a peregrine falcon has been spotted flying about the castle when they are not normally found anywhere nearby."
"I take it that nobody's mentioning a flying snake of some species nobody knew anything about?" said Alistair Moody.
There were a few exchanged glances but nobody spoke.
"Thought so," concluded Moody. "Any other useful bits she's teaching?"
"Well, there's this," said Albus Dumbledore, flicking his wand. "Area effect spell. Ràng guāng xiǎnlù. 让光显露!"
Light spread out through the room, a soft blue glow that quickly faded.
"What does that one do?" asked Moody, whose eye was flicking about very quickly now.
"It's an anti-disguise spell, but it only indicates one is present - not what is actually there. Also works on disillusioned objects." Albus Dumbledore's eyes twinkled briefly. "Picks up on cosmetic spells too, so of limited usefulness nowadays apparently."
"I'm definitely learning that one, though it's a bit of a mouthful," commented Moody.
"It's a Chinese spell, the important part is the wand movements and the intent," said Dumbledore as he went through the motions again.
* Self-Defense Club *
"So, that's four Japanese spells, three Chinese charms, two Korean transfigurations, the South African Animagus method, and a Bolivian battering charm," said Taylor approvingly. "Not bad, Weasley."
Ginny Weasley nodded. "Not up to your level though."
"True, but you've got more raw power than I do," said Taylor. "Seventh child of the seventh child and all. As for your studies, you're doing better than I did in Potions and Herbology. All I got in your year was Acceptable for those two."
"Yeah, you're two years ahead," Ginny reminded herself. "Mind if I ask you?"
"No, I'm not interested in anybody here," said Taylor. "Made a few friends though, which I had not expected when I started. Hat was right, Hufflepuff was good for me."
"Whatever, Gryffindor's best," said Ginny.
"Why, because Harry's in it?" asked Taylor, rewarded with a redhaired witch turning briefly as red as her hair.
"Do you suppose?" asked Ginny, nervously glancing to the side.
Hermione didn't even look up from her book. "Harry has a little problem with getting close to others because he keeps angsting about being the target of Death Eaters and in case Tom shows up again."
Ron spoke up from his own corner, actually looking up from a book he found fascinating. Mainly because it dealt with muggle explosives. "Harry wakes up with nightmares on a regular basis. Mainly dealing with some weird items and whispering and threats. He usually pulls out some photograph and calms down some afterwards. Never got a good look at it though - his parents you suppose?"
"Something comforting I suppose," agreed Taylor.
"You know something," Ginny accused.
"I know many things, some of which I have sworn not to spread about," admitted Taylor.
* Brockton Bay *
How long did it take for your world to crumble around you?
Madison Clements measured it in a few seconds to happen, and several hours later it was still going. Like an avalanche where an almost insignificant rock could start something that was very significant.
"Hey kid," said one of the larger women in the lockup. "I got some... candy for you."
"EEK! NOTHANKS!" managed Madison as she tried to become one with the wall.
Dead Taylor looked in at one point, shook her head, then moved on. Even the horrifying ghost knew how screwed she was.
"You know, cute girls like you, they end up passed around like a bottle of hooch," said another of the women.
Madison whimpered. Weren't they coming to take her confession? She didn't want to be passed around. She didn't want to be here at all!
* Police Desk *
"Girl's whimpering. Maybe we should call them off?"
"Nah. Accomplice to a protracted bullying campaign and attempted murder. Girls like that - they're just good at acting. Give her another couple of hours at least."
"You sure? She's only been in lockup for half-an-hour and she looks like she's ready to piss herself."
"Sure I'm sure. Huh. Note in the system says that the Barnes girl's case is now a PRT matter."
"Makes sense. Anything this screwed up probably has at least one parahuman involved."
"Hear that."
* Hogwarts *
"He got a week's detentions the first day. 'Breathing too loud'? 'Looking rebellious'? 'Overly Aggressive'?" Hermione huffed a little.
"Taylor got a month's detention. Good thing Umbridge's out of here." Fred Weasley threw a ball out into the lake. A moment later a large tentacle threw it back.
"Taylor got one detention before she left in the middle of it. Apparently between Lord Black's lawyers, Professor Miyazaki apparently having some pull with Magical Japan, and Taylor having a list of all Umbridge's Dark Artifacts in her luggage to turn over to the Aurors - it was kind of overkill." George Weasley caught the ball next before throwing it back to the Giant Squid.
"Fudge is still trying to get her out and back here. Think there's any chance?" asked Hermione. "She was NOT a good teacher."
"This idea that the wizarding world is safe except for nonhuman creatures, muggles, muggleborn, and people who don't vote for Fudge," said George as he flipped the ball up and then kicked it out when it came back down.
The Squid caught it and threw it back with a fairly impressive curve.
"I'm pretty sure she's not coming back," said Fred Weasley.
"Why not?" asked Hermione.
"Last I heard that Beauxbatons champion, the Delacour girl? Ol' Umbridge attempted to arrest her for cheating on that Triwizard Tournament 'cause obviously she couldn't beat pureblood wizards without cheating." Fred retrieved the ball with a levitation spell since it had just gotten past him.
"Is she daft? No, wait, we're talking about Umbridge. Of course she's daft," said Hermione. "What was Fleur doing back in Britain anyway? Tourism?"
"Well, we may have heard that a certain one of our brothers has caught her eye," said George.
"Wow. Seriously? Ron? That seems unlikely without some form of magical coercion," said Hermione.
"No, one of our other brothers," corrected Fred. "I'd likely die of shock if the lovely Miss Delacour pursued Ron."
"It would truly be a tragedy," agreed George.
"Our brother Bill is a cursebreaker for Gringotts, they're dating, don't tell our Mother," said Fred.
A section of the Giant Squid briefly surfaced and winked at them.
"Thanks," said Fred. "Not that we really thought you'd go blabbing."
The Giant Squid submerged fully again.
"I have to wonder about the level of sapience of some of the items and creatures in the magical world," said Hermione, not incidentally changing the subject before it could stray into her own lack of success in the dating department.
"Sapience?" asked George.
"Sapience is awareness of self, the ability to think rationally and accumulate knowledge. Sentience is emotive/reactive - animals are sentient because they can perceive the environment and react to it." Hermione put up a hand and casually batted the ball back to the squid.
"So, in the case of Umbridge - no?" asked George. "Because, while she perceives things around her - she doesn't change her behavior based on it."
"I'm pretty sure that's not how that goes," said Hermione, who then cocked her head and considered it. "However tempting that line of thought might be."
"So, back to Umbridge coming back," said George, not sure how their conversation had strayed so far along a path he'd not intended. "The French raised a stink about her ordering a bunch of Aurors to 'cage the animal' and not buying the excuse she was drunk."
"Was she?" asked Hermione.
"She's too much of a control freak to drink, don't you think?" asked Fred.
"Point, definite point," agreed George. "So Fleur bent Bill's ear about the whole thing. Bill let us know because Bill needed to vent and knows we can be serious when it is required."
"Fortunately, that is not always a requirement," agreed Fred.
"What a sad world it would be, if that was the case," admitted George as he continued to bat the ball back to the Squid. "Apparently the Secretary to the Ministry of Magic got tired of dealing with her and fired her."
"She was the Senior Undersecretary, so things had to get pretty bad to reach that level," said Fred. "Still, all's well and all. Shuffling the departments around means Percy might get promoted."
"So what's up with Harrykins? I haven't seen him lately outside of the Great Hall," asked George.
"You're not setting odds again are you?" asked Hermione.
"No, those aren't going to be adjusted for another week or so," said Fred. "There are rules about that sort of thing now."
"What are my odds? Though I hesitate to ask," said Hermione.
"You're currently favored," said Fred. "More than that I shouldn't say."
"Something going on with meetings with Dumbledore, that's all I know." Hermione shrugged a little. She WANTED to know, but Taylor had explained operational security and legilimency.
* Department of Mysteries *
"So that's the whole prophecy," said Harry, putting the glass globe back in place.
The hooded and masked Unspeakable shifted in place before replying. Harry noted that the voice was different, so he wasn't sure what that was about. "Yes. That the orb is still active means that the Dark Lord Riddle is not finished yet. Only about 2/7 of the way as far as we can tell. The moment he's gone for good, the sphere will darken."
Dumbledore nodded. "I was reluctant to involve the Department of Mysteries as they may have moles within their organization."
The figure held up a pair of sunglasses. "We did. This is no longer the case."
"It can detect the Dark Mark?" asked Dumbledore.
The figure nodded, not speaking aloud as it put the sunglasses away.
"Well, that doesn't preclude that some supporters who have not taken the Mark aren't within your department," said Dumbledore.
The voice this time was of a young woman. "We have gotten some of the robes from the Japanese shrines that provide them to their school. We adapted their spellcraft. Those who have willingly joined that cause are no longer a concern."
"What about other magical tattoos?" asked Harry.
"Not a concern," said the now-raspy voice of the Unspeakable. "Time to get you back to the castle."
* Hufflepuff Craft Room *
"Cho Chang's in first place. Hermione second. But Luna Lovegood is trying to go for a double-play with Ginny Weasley and it could be a major upset."
Taylor finished working with a runeset, then glanced up. "Guys. Not helping me concentrate here."
It was known that Ravenclaw had a library. The Slytherins and Gryffindors had their own little specialties. Hufflepuff had a workshop room for various crafting activities.
Currently there was a large blackboard keeping track of various popular bets. Who was going to be Harry Potter's first kiss? Would Draco get a clue? Would Su Li and Marjorie Delacruz ever confess? Days to the next explosion in Potions? There was, of course, a similar one in Ravenclaw in their library and odds played a more major part of that one - which was supposedly an arithromancy project.
"What's she working on now?" asked Susan Bones, a bit curious after hearing that one of Taylor's projects was now of interest to her Aunt Amelia.
Ernie MacMillan, incurable gossip but also one of the more in-the-know (though the actual fact percentage was open to debate), was quick to reply. "You remember how in our First Year we were told about some boogeyman her family has had to deal over in MacUSA?"
"I remember that, some kind of ancient native spirit?" asked Susan, who'd dismissed it at the time as just another of those things that the older students told the newbies to wind them up.
"She thinks it's real, killed a bunch of muggles by driving them more barmy than they usually are," confided Ernie. "She confessed to one of the older students about nightmares this 'Simurgh' was looking for her. So she's been working on ways of either hiding from something that uses legilimency to hunt, or to protect from its 'song of madness'."
"You think maybe it's real?" asked Susan.
"Well, if it IS, then it's a good thing there's an ocean between us and it," said Ernie. "The more space between us and anything like that - the better I say."
Susan was silent for a bit, thinking about how some of this crazy-but-brilliant girl's inventions were apparently of interest to the DMLE. As her Aunt was the head of that magical law enforcement group, that made it also interesting to her. There had been enough of her relatives killed during magical battles to make any protections they had a very good thing in her opinion. "Do you suppose something like that would be useful against Dementors?"
"Point," admitted Ernie. He checked the time. "Back to my own House now that I've touched base over here. You know the Hat was arguing about whether to put me in Slytherin or Hufflepuff?"
"You might have mentioned it once or twice," replied Susan. "Just a bit. So what are the odds now that Draco's obsession with Harry Potter is more of the frustrated romantic sort?"
"I'm pretty sure that rumor is false," allowed Ernie. "Entertaining though."
* Greg Veder *
There were people who, upon faced with a building fire, would pull out their cellphones and start recording video rather than evacuate the building or something else boring but sensible.
Absolutely nobody would doubt that XxVoid_CowboyxX would fall neatly into that category.
He had a PHO Account under that name, a WeTube account under the name 6Ladies_Man9, a Wroteit and Fadebook account known as BrocktonSage, and a couple of sock puppet accounts on each for good measure.
He also had a poster of Daffy Duck with the phrase "I may be a little coward but I'm a greedy little coward" on the wall.
He had video, damning video, of several of Taylor's beatdowns and bullying. He had never posted any of them because he was well aware that his chances of beating Madison Clements in a fight were near zero. Much less Emma Barnes and the chance of him not getting the puke beaten out of him by Sophia would be somewhat smaller than the universe tearing itself apart in a Great Rift at that very moment.
As soon as the word reached him that others were taking the risk and posting their own videos, he started his own uploads under the idea that it was easy for a tree to hide if it was in a forest.
Every damning video that he'd edited together. He included other victims than Taylor. He included other instigators than the Terrible Trio. He (using the sock puppet account of BrockBayBorn) used the "Why Winslow Sucks" title plus the number of the video. Then linked to it in his various other accounts.
Because, yes, he was a coward. But he was a greedy little coward.
* Hogwarts, Formal Dueling Room *
"Interesting, and you want to make these available to the DMLE?" asked Amelia Bones.
"They're potentially dangerous, but I was mainly thinking about using them around here the next time things go wrong," said Taylor Hebert.
"Remarkable, and all that's required is to drop one?" asked Dumbledore, holding up a marble.
"They have to be crushed or broken," said Taylor. "Otherwise dropping a handful would be a problem."
"Instant Wall," said Amelia Bones, holding up a red marble. "Instant Fog. Instant Hole?"
"I saw it in an American cartoon and wondered if one could be made," said Taylor, holding up the black circle of acromantula silk. "Put it up against a wall or other surface, tap it with your wand and use the passphrase to turn it on. For thirty seconds, it forms a tunnel in whatever you put it against unless that surface is something alive or heavily enchanted. The Instant Wall comes in two varieties and was primarily intended as a barricade for spells like the Killing Curse which can only be blocked by physical barriers."
"I take it that the 'Acme' spell you created was inspired by such things?" Amelia acknowledged the student's nod with one of her own. "I had wondered why a spell to conjure an anvil into the air was deemed useful enough to develop such."
"Because there are people in this world for whom such an unexpected event would be of use," said Taylor. "Though for some reason you'll occasionally get a safe, a wash basin, a thousand ping pong balls, or a ceramic flowerpot with a bunch of petunias."
"Odd," agreed Dumbledore.
"I suppose it's like the pie-to-the-face spell where the underlying chaos of the universe is influencing the result," said Taylor.
"And I must ask WHY you would create such a spell and WHY you would teach the Weasley Twins it?" asked Dumbledore. "Even if the pie conjured by that vanishes within a few minutes, it is still somwhat messy."
"Favor for the Twins to repay a debt," said Taylor. "Also much less problematic than a vast number of jinxes that I've seen used. The only side effect seems to be the target tasting the pie for a bit longer than the remains remain."
Dumbledore considered the various jinxes, and hadn't banned the spell because it was just a minor inconvenience. Though Filius Flitwick had proclaimed it an interesting finisher if you wanted to humiliate your opponent.
"Lord Black is backing my research, which helps me out enormously," said Taylor. "So there's also that aspect. Some ingredients and equipment would otherwise be outside what I can afford even with my summer jobs."
"Oh?" asked Amelia. "You work during the summer break from Hogwarts? I think my niece said something about that once."
"Professor Sprout has quite a few connections," explained Taylor. "Some years I work an apprenticeship at the Nimbus company, which makes racing brooms though they also put out a few items like Vanishing Cabinets. I worked one summer with Ollivander, gathering and dealing with the materials to make wands, though he doesn't teach the actual wand-making to anyone not of his family. Last summer I had a chance to work with Hexum & Locke, magical pest control and cursebreaking out of Fort Williams. Quite interesting even if they didn't let me do much other than lug equipment around."
"Right now, Miss Hebert should be focused on end-of-year exams," said Albus Dumbledore.
"Well, if you do well enough, perhaps a few walk-alongs with the Aurors wouldn't be out of bounds," said Amelia. "I understand Susan considers you one of her friends."
"That would actually fit into my plans quite well," admitted Taylor.
* Dragon *
She was quite aware from the first report that something was amiss. In fact, she was quite aware that several things were amiss.
A warrant had been issued, permission from authorities granted, and she'd quickly cracked and datamined not only their official cellphones but several backup phones and two burners that they'd used.
There were perfectly innocent texts that she went over for the possibility of codewords being involved, though she thought it highly unlikely based on the emerging psychological profile of the main suspects. The less-innocent texts brought in eight more suspects, those these seemed more hangers-on or "support cast" for the trio.
Certainly there had to be something else going on. The three were in a school where there was a distinct gang presence, which included the Empire 88. If the neo-nazi group had the excuse of a black track star beating on a white girl that didn't fight back, why hadn't they done anything? Why had so many teachers turned a blind eye to events? Why did Principal Blackwell have three accounts with three different banks and balances that did not appear to involve her recorded income?
Dragon included flags now to the IRS in addition to other agencies as more questions seemed to be outside the data presented. That question at least apparently had a simple answer.
She was doing a number of other things at the same time, despite her limitations she was still pretty good at multi-tasking. One of which blipped at her as multiple uploads across multiple websites hit a new high number. Some, such as ParaHumans Online, she had Administrator access to and could delete with appropriate comments about outing capes and rule violations. Others she had only user access to and could file protests or requests as much as she was allowed. There were too many cases where the video evidence was where she couldn't get to it without hacking the site.
She found it disquieting how many people participated in the attacks on one of their own, even if it was just by turning away and not providing any witness to the events. Multiple events. Over a period of almost two years. That they had SAVED that evidence for reasons of their own, some no doubt to rewatch the bullying for some sense of personal enjoyment/empowerment? That was most concerning and pointed to widespread psychological issues within the student body.
None of the data available gave her any answers to those previous questions.
And what was up with this mass delusion? No physical evidence, though there were a lot of stories that dovetailed on most of the details.
So many questions.
* Ministry of Magic *
"There are several pureblood families, families who have supported this administration and contributed to the right sort of people, who died in that graveyard! What do we know about the beast?"
"Minister, we know the beast is a flying snake which spits an acid-based poison. We know it is fast, deadly, and will ignore wizards unless it is attacked. We have included notes to that effect in the Daily Prophet along with a request for further information." Amelia Bones steepled her hands in front of her and, if anything, sounded more bored than intimidated. "Magi-zoologists are even now looking around for it. The only information source we have is a Hogwarts student who had a chance to study the beast over the summer and named it a 'Mini-Drag' as she published the notes. She published the notes including some detailed sketches and a photograph in the Quibbler. The Prophet ran an article quoting the information but not giving the original author credit. Apparently the beast can also be used in the manner of a mail owl and has appeared at Hogwarts and been seen around Hogsmeade."
"But nobody has caught the thing?" asked Cornelius Fudge.
"Look at the photo. It turns and smiles at the camera. It is visibly POSING. That is not a simple beast, it is the actions of something which is not only intelligent but capable of understanding what a camera is. It may be called a 'miniature dragon' but if dragons were actually that intelligent the wizarding world would be pretty screwed. As such, being able to capture what may well be a four-X intelligent and fast creature is going to be something that only happens with good timing and a fair share of luck. One of the magi-zoologists reported that she had it cornered only for it to take the floo and escape. Think about that - not only smart enough but magical enough to make use of floo travel?"
Judging how pale Cornelius Fudge had turned, he realized some of the implications.
"We'll come back to the fact that those 'right sort of people' were wearing the masks and robes of Death Eaters. That is ALSO part of our investigations. Now, if you don't mind, I have three muggings, two arsons, four muggle-baiting, and two Health & Safety violations in my inbox already."
A paper airplane shot through a slot, circled the room once, then unfolded and settled into her inbox. Glancing at it, Amelia sighed and corrected herself. "And add to that one Indecent Exposure and Public Drunkeness.
"I- I see," said Cornelius Fudge. "I'll let you get back to it then."
* Taylor *
It had been a surprise to her, in Second Year, to realize she'd gradually begun making friends. Hufflepuff House had actually been good for her in that regard.
Oh, even now she tended to put people off. To be slow to trust. To suspect underhanded things were going on around her.
She was wondering now what would happen in just over a year. Would she graduate from Hogwarts and then vanish to reappear back home? Would the people here retroactively forget about her? Or would it take the resolution of Harry Potter's little wouldn't-stay-dead problem? The Dark Lord who apparently had at least one more of those soul-anchors holding him in this life.
A school owl fluttered nearby with a parcel and made a "prek" noise to get her attention.
Not that she hadn't already noticed it approaching. Thankfully not during breakfast. All those owls flapping around during breakfast, adding dust and feathers and the occasional owl pellet - always struck her as one of those little indicators that any sort of sense was just absent from this wizarding world.
A smile found its way to her face on seeing the return address on the parcel. One of Professor Miyazaki's contacts had heard of her inquiries. Opening it (with a wand and muttered reversed Folding Charm, two wand movements more efficient than the Unfolding Charm) revealed cramped-looking notes and a small pouch of ingredients.
This... this had some serious possibilities.