A new chapter is coming online today for the weekend. I hope you like it.

Extendable ears

The next morning Al met his brother on the grand staircase. »Well?«

James pulled him to the edge of the railing and let the other classmates pass. »Not here!« he hissed.

»But did they succeed?« Al didn't let up.

»Yes, it succeeded and the package is safe.« James remembered his father's old spy novels and felt stupid using such code words. But who knew who was listening.

»Very good.« Al beamed, already looking forward to seeing his friend again.

»But we must let things rest and recover,« James added. Before Al could say anything back, James ran down the stairs.

James was already late and hurried to get to class on time. He quickly sat down in an empty seat. Not too late, because Professor Hagrid was starting the lesson. James took a roll of parchment as well as a quill from his pocket and was about to ask his neighbour if he had a book when he realised who he had sat next to.

»Maxym?« he asked in a whisper.

»Well? Have you forgotten the time again?« She placed her book in the middle.

Before James could get to a suitable reply, Hagrid cleared his throat.

»Dear students, ehm, today we are discussing the bowtruckle. What can you tell me about them?«

»They are found mostly in the west of England and the south of Germany,« a Ravenclaw student called in.

»Very true. The little fellows are also found in the Scandinavian countries. But because of its size, just twenty centimetres, you can't see it well.«

»Have you found one yet?« someone from Hufflepuff asked.

Hagrid pushed through his chest. »Of course. Peaceful creatures they are. But if you cut down their tree, they'll scratch your eyes out with their sharp claws.«

A few Slytherins sniggered. »That's the only thing that would matter about those things,« James muttered.

Maxym poked him in the ribs with her elbow. »Shh.«

»We're sitting here learning about a green gnome instead of doing something really important,« James continued to complain.

Hagrid, who had just walked past Maxym and James' table, couldn't help but hear the snide remark from the Potter elder. »Miss Malfoy, would you like to explain to your seatmate why it's important to know the bowtruckle?«

»If you appease them with wood lice, you can cut a piece of wand wood from their tree,« Maxym replied with a grin.

James acknowledged this with a snort and a shrug of his shoulders.

After this little exchange, Hagrid continued with the lesson. Maxym followed him intently, taking a few notes here and there. James, however, had completely lost interest and was scribbling random things on his parchment scroll.

After Hagrid had finished the lesson, James and Max packed up their things.

»Can you see this as your future?« asked James casually.

Maxym paused. »Teaching?«

James shook his head. »No, working with magical creatures. I mean, we're graduating soon. What do you want to do then, how do you envision the future?«

»What a profound question. I honestly don't know. Everything is so uncertain. Especially at this time. We're just living from day to day. From disaster to disaster. I don't see a future yet, not even how this whole thing will turn out.«

»Hey.« James put his bag on the table and took Maxym's hands in his, pulling her close. He didn't care if they were currently in a full classroom, surrounded by their classmates.

He took both her hands in one and stroked a strand that had fallen into her face behind her ear with the freed hand.

»Everything will be all right. You'll see. Soon we'll be dealing with exams and school problems. Our parents will bug us and old habits will return.« But it seemed that Maxym was not yet convinced, so he pulled her even closer to him and kissed her intimately.

Maxym forgot her nervousness and insecurity for a short time and gave herself fully to the kiss. She enjoyed the warmth James radiated and felt safe in his arms.

But as his lips left hers, she quickly realised where they were and a slight blush settled on her cheeks.

»James, we're in a classroom here,« she chided him softly.

»So what, I can kiss my girlfriend where I want.« James didn't see the problem.

Maxym wanted to take a step back, thus gaining some distance from James, but he continued to hold her. »James, everyone is staring at us,« she whispered, looking sheepishly to her right and left.

James shrugged his shoulders as he had earlier. »Let them, at least we'll give them a show.« And before she could say anything back, he had placed his lips on hers again.

In the afternoon, this show act was of course the number one topic of conversation. Maxym was more than embarrassed, but James basked in the attention. But he understood his girlfriend's embarrassment and they both retreated to the library. Here they could not hear the whispering and comments and concentrate on the exams ahead.

The lovers sat surrounded by books at one of the large tables and they completed their notes. At least, that was what Maxym intended to do. James kept looking over at her, taking her hand and kissing the back of it. He couldn't let go of her today. And even if Maxym had to keep re-reading the page and putting down the quill, she enjoyed the caresses and the feeling of youthful infatuation in this dark, unpredictable time.

They hadn't been sitting extendable when more and more of the Rebels joined them, adding books to the table and devoting themselves to learning as well.

»Well?« asked Elizabeth. »Do they have him?«

James nodded. »Not here. We will discuss all this in due course.« The other Rebels were about to intervene. But James continued. »If you want to help, keep an eye out for those extendable ears. There must be others scattered around the castle. We need to know where and how many.« James had lowered his voice and the others were struggling to understand him.

Colin was about to ask, but James shook his head and put his index finger to his closed lips.

The Rebels nodded. They were being bugged and desperately needed to know where they could talk without being disturbed. Without exchanging any more words, they turned back to their books and notes.

The next morning Colin and Katelyn met again in the library, they both had the first two hours off and had arranged to look for the ears during that time.

»Where do we want to start looking?« asked Katelyn.

Colin pointed down the rows. »You look in the left rows, I'll look in the right. We'll meet back there.«

Katelyn nodded. »Shall we remove the ears? James hasn't said anything.«

»No, I think it would make more sense to leave them in place. After all, we just need to know where some are placed and which places we can absolve.«

Without wasting any more time, they both walked down the rows, looking around carefully. Every now and then they moved the books on the shelves aside. Since most of the students were in the classrooms or common rooms at that time, they could search undisturbed.

After they had gone through all the rows of shelves and searched for hiding places, they met in the back of the library as discussed. Colin was leaning casually against the shelf and Katelyn came running up to him.

»Well?« He looked at her expectantly.

»I spotted an ear in each of the fourth and sixth aisles,« she whispered to him.

»For me, it was row three, seven and ten. That fits. They placed the ears by the books where many students congregate. Right now at exam time, we're getting exam books off those shelves?«

»We'll have to report that to the others. It's not safe here anymore.« Katelyn took Colin's hand and pulled him along.

Katelyn couldn't tell them about her discoveries until fifth period. She and Maxym looked at potions and were able to set up their cauldrons side by side.

After Professor Flanagon explained the recipe for the potion and gave them instructions, Max and Katelyn prepared the ingredients. As they were seated far back in the left-hand corner, they were able to talk without disturbance and the fear of being overheard.

»We've discovered something,« Katelyn began.

Maxym, who was chopping tubers into small pieces, looked up. »Discovered what?«

»Well, we were supposed to be looking for the extendable ears. Colin and I took advantage of our two free hours this morning and combed the library.«

»Oh you two, then. Alone?« Maxym raised his eyebrows questioningly.

»It wasn't like that at all. Stop it already. We focused on the search first,« her friend justified herself.

»First? And what did you do afterwards?« Maxym didn't let up.

»Well,« Katelyn repressed. »We did... that's not important. More importantly, the library is no longer safe. We found some extendable ears on the shelves with the books you're currently reading for the exams.«

Maxym nodded gravely. »We really must tell the others about that. Maybe there are other places where we need to be careful what we tell each other.« Katelyn was about to add something but was interrupted by the abrupt appearance of her professor.

»That looks very good already Ms. Malfoy, stir it some more so the ingredients mix properly. The essences need to have time to combine.«

After class, Maxym immediately wanted to call for a meeting of the Rebels, but was held back by Scorp. »Have you read the Daily Prophet yet?«

At this, he tossed the paper towards them. »We need to talk about that, but I have to get going.« With that he ran off to his next subject and Katelyn and Maxym also headed off to the next classroom.

But since Professor Longbottom was running late, they had time to read the latest headline on the front page:

A criminal on the run

The previous evening, a serious criminal managed to escape from Azkaban. Aurors as well as inspectors were quickly on the scene and were able to examine the cell as well as the escape route in detail. Initial evidence has already been found and various leads are being pursued.

The Daily Prophet has information that investigations are already underway and that the wizards and witches of Britain will soon be able to feel save again. Giffor McManus has assured the newspaper that he is doing everything in his power to catch the criminal and send him back to Azkaban.

So far, the name and the reason and means of the escape have not been revealed. However, the Aurors and Inspectors do not rule out outside help. If loyal and conscientious wizards and witches know, notice or observe anything, they should please contact the nearest Auror Headquarters.

I would really appreciate it if you would leave a little comment so I know that someone out there is reading my story.