The parlour and office in Mynydd Hall was covered in papers. The desk was all but hidden under boxes and documents, leaving enough space for Ifan to scrawl something down if needed - he had resigned himself to writing his actual correspondence at the dining table. The fire roared to lend warmth into the drafty room, as there were similar fires dotted about the Hall.
The dining room too was surrounded with mountains of paperwork, although appeared to have a more coherent system than that of the parlour and office. There were slips of parchment with names, and if possible a photo, or various people on top of the documents, the largest being one with a laughing man with the name Sirius Black scrolled underneath.
With him there was a section of the room simply for Black but had subsections with names of Regulus Black, Orion and Walburga Black. There was limited information for these three other people, especially with Regulus, who, though long thought dead, had no death certificate nor any official declaration of his demise. Orion and Walburga had both of their birth, marriage and death certificates, as well as a Decree confirming the allowance for them to marry despite their close relation.
A line of twine connected the Blacks to the Malfoy pile - after all, Narcissa was a Black before her marriage. They had a fairly substantial sheaf of papers detailing their birth and marriage certificates, along with Draco's. There were also the past Decrees that Lucius Malfoy had voted on and had a hand in - which turned out to be a lot. Lucius' trial documents were also included, but were under a glamour as Ifan took...irregular ways to obtain them.
Dumbledore had a towering mass, covering the period of his teaching at Hogwarts, his time in the resistance to Grendelwald, and his actions in the War. There was also the correspondence between him and Ifan - Dumbledore was happy to send over his kept copies for Ifan's project.
His was connected to Severus Snape which wasn't as tall as Lucius' biography. Again, his trial papers were there, although these were more readily available, along with Potions Mastery documents, his patents and scribbles that Ifan dictated from what James and Lily told him. Well, most of it, leaving out the juvenile slurs James spouted.
The Order of the Phoenix was jotted down though names were not mentioned - despite Mynydd Hall's protections, one couldn't be too careful. This contained brief notes of missions made, both failures and successes, and any problems that arose from it being a vigilante group against a terrorist.
In the middle was Aster's name, although only the death certificates of her, James and Lily underneath.
It was a mess but Ifan flitted between each pile slipping in more information he deemed relevant before moving off again to another box. He had deliberately left Longbottom's name out of it - the boy wasn't important. Not in this case, no matter what the world at large thought.
Ifan was exhausted. He had spent many sleepless nights since Aster went off to Hogwarts digging up as much information he could, scavenging scraps and shoving them into booklets. Dumbledore helped where he could, but his influence on the Ministry wasn't as it used to be, and there was only so much he could do.
When Ifan told Dumbledore that Sirius was not in fact the Secret Keeper, he was unconvinced; he had been the one to make him so in the first place. It wasn't until Ifan got Lily to confirm this that he lent a hand in trying to remove this charge from his sentence in Azkaban.
It wouldn't help the more weighty conviction of mass murder, but it would at worst remove a year from his torture, and at best help soften the remaining of his sentence based on it being due to the retribution of his friend's and named Heir. The Wizarding World took things like that very passionately after all.
So for the past three months since Aster's arrival at school, her Grandfather, parents and Headmaster had been scouring ways in which to help the inmate. Nothing was advertised, to anyone, to prevent a premature retrial. They needed to get this right.
James was still unsure on the whole truth of Sirius even being guilty of mass murder.
"As insane as he can be, what with being a Black, I can't really imagine him doing that. Killing Wormtail? Definitely. Losing so much control he blew up a street? No. When he lost control his magic turned cold, not hot. The entire Black line does."
"We can't face that charge yet, James. Not without proof. It's hard enough finding a physical way to show Pettigrew was the Secret Keeper. AND no, we can't just shove your portrait at the Wizengamot. You know that's not how it works." Ifan sighed, having heard his reasons numerous times already.
"And how's that going? I don't even know why you need all these thrice damned piles." James grumbled.
"James! For all that is holy, will you shut up?!" Lily complained. "You know why we have these notes on everyone. The more we can dig up on stuff the better. Especially the Malfoys. They'll swing the vote, no doubt about it." Lily sighed before softening her tone. "I know you want this sorted quickly. But we cannot afford to do this not fully prepared - we will only get one chance for this."
"I know, Lil. Belive me, I know." James said as he rubbed his face. "It's just - he already had such a shit childhood, then we were in a War on the front lines to end up in Azkaban of all bloody places. We need to get him out."
Ifan respectfully tuned out their conversation as he flipped through a tome he had acquired from Sagina. It was a rather obscure Wizard one on protection charms. He had been poring over it for the past few days wondering why she had sent it over, he knew that a number of the Fae in Raven Path Way were aware of his research, as was Mita in Knockturn Alley, but he hadn't thought that they too would keep a look out for information.
So as he was about three quarters of the way through the tome a slip of parchment fell out with Sagina's elegant script simply saying This one. Paying attention he sat more comfortably in his chair, tuning out the portraits fully to better understand what he saw in front of him.
It was a 'family' tree of spells. There were ones such as standard healing spells connected to ones of protection with lines to Blood Wards and more. However on the next page it explained the outlines of charms like the Fidelius and how it didn't require the original caster to be present, or even aware, that a change was needed - even of the entire location which was being kept secret.
It explained how the only ones who needed to be aware of the change was the original Secret Keeper and those who he, or she, swore to protect. From there it could simply be a case of the original and the new Keeper to swear an oath to swap places essentially, by holding one another's arms, slowly turning them from the original being dominant to underneath. It was a lot less secure than thought, which was why, the book explained, it was normally an addition to Wards on Ancestral Homes - not the sole protection. Too much reliance on it was problematic, and too many people aware of the location weakened the strength of the charm further.
Ifan sat back as he thought. Lily, James, and in her infantile way, Aster also knew the location, Dumbledore, Ifan, Sirius and Pettigrew were aware. As were Lupin, McGonnagall, Snape and Hagrid. Eleven people would certainly be a detriment to the security. Granted, Snape only became aware that they were under a Fidelius rather than the location itself, but it still would surely impact the strength. But by that line of reasoning Voldemort himself would have damaged the potency of the charm. As such, if the Fidelius was not as foolproof in the first instance, would the amount of knowledge have made it that much easier for Lily to transfer the Keeper? Especially once Voldemort heard of it - as much as Ifan was loathe to admit it, he possessed a lot of power, nearly unrivalled.
Ifan sat there for an unmeasured length of time, sat in his armchair with crossed legs, tracing his lips with his finger as he looked out the window, watching butterflies, bees and later fireflies dot about, a long forgotten cup of tea beside him. He jumped when Eppy popped in front of him.
"Proffessor Dumbly is asking for you, Mister Master."
"Thank you, Eppy." He murmured before getting to his feet and shuffling to the parlour, stretching his back out after sitting still for so long.
"You wished to speak to me, Albus?" Ifan asked the face in his grate.
"Yes, if you have the time, old friend? May I come through?"
"If you wish."
A flash of fire later and the tall Wizard stepped out, looking about the room.
"I see you've redecorated the place. If you're open to critique - may I suggest making some papers into another seat?"
Ifan shot him a dry look. "Your humour knows no bounds, Albus, truly." Ignoring the other man's chortling, he gestured him to sit and called for tea. "How can I help, Albus? You're not usually one for impromptu social calls, especially during term time."
Albus sighed as he accepted his cup and taking a sip. "No, I'm afraid its nothing as pleasant as a friendly chat. Where is Lily and James?" He asked, noticing the blank frame.
"In the other room. James is struggling at the uphill battle of decreasing Black's sentence."
Albus nodded, "I imagine. Are they available to join, do you think?"
"We're here, Albus." Lily said before smirking. "Our ears were burning."
"I hope not. We're made of canvas, love."
"And I do not relish the idea of ash on my floors."
"How can we help?" Lily asked over them, ignoring her husband ans Grandfather.
"It's about Aster -"
"What's happened? Has Snape done something? Has he crossed the - ow! What was that for?!"
"Let the man speak, you idiot. And if Sev has done something...I'll deal with him myself." She smiled ferally.
"Poor bastard." James muttered with adoring eyes. Gods he loved her.
"Severus has done nothing, you needn't fear. Indeed, what I've come to say pertains to something she and a friend had brought to his attention."
"She has a friend? Ooh! Who is it?"
"Not now James!" Lily hissed.
"A Mr Theodore Nott Junior. A most pleasant and studious young man, if you must know, James. Anyway, she and Mr Nott asked to see Severus the other morning regarding a concern they had."
"Concerned with what, Albus?" Ifan asked as the other man took another drink.
"A member of the staff. Quirinus Quirrell. He a Professor of Alchemy, although he steps in when Professor Fawley is away, which is sadly a fair amount with his duties at the Ministry."
"I think I've heard of Fawley, but not Quirrell."
Albus shook his head. "No you wouldn't have. Caleb, Professor Fawley that is, does have a lot of connections in the Ministry - he helps out a lot in the Auory department due to his...Mastery in Defence. Quirinus, however, is...unnoticed. He never has made an impact, as much as it pains me to say. He was quite happy reading his books and finding his own adventures. He actually went to Albania last year and came into contact with Vampires. Poor man, he's been more anxious since then, and he was never the most, er, confident of fellows."
"And you're telling me this why?"
"Because I believe it may be a significant cause, if not the root, of the issues Aster and Mr Nott brought forth."
"And what are the issues she said, Albus? You're yet to say." Ifan said impatiently.
"Ah, yes, I do apologise Ifan. They came to Severus with concerns over Quirinus himself. They told him that they had noticed a peculiar ability to hear murmurs from across classrooms, and reacting to them. They gave the example of a couple of boys in their House who had, I believe, mocked the professor and he seemed to have heard them. This seems to have happened a fair number of times, all resulting in his eyes flashing red."
Ifan sat up straight, "Go on."
"Yes you're seeing the same issue as I? Not only does he do this, for a number of others as well, but it seems to happen in other lessons with other students, Severus has learned.
"Furthermore, Quirinus has a rather severe stammer, often the butt of jokes, but when he loses his patience and when his eyes change colour, it surprisingly ceases to be. He is a usually calm man, in the way that he doesn't appear to be quick to anger, so for this complete change is...concerning."
"What exactly are you getting at, Albus? You're here for a reason. I'd rather you get to the point." Ifan bit out.
Albus sighed as he cleaned his spectacles. "There have been whispers. In the Ministry. Have you heard them?"
"There are always rumours and whispers in the Ministry. You'll need to be more specific."
"About Voldemort."
James snorted. "He said be more specific, Albus. That guy is talked about more than whom is sleeping with who."
"About where he is right now. There have been comments that he is attracting people once again. People have been searching for him more openly than they did before. A common hypothesis is that he escaped abroad to one of the places he visited before his return to Britain."
"And let me guess...Albania is on that list." Ifan said as he swirled the dregs of his tea about.
"Sadly, yes. For what reason I have no clue."
"You think this Professor is an agent of the Dark Lord." Ifan stated, already linking the dots that Albus had been slowly making. Despite it not being a question the other man nodded. "It is my fear, yes."
"Was he sympathetic to him before? Open to his ideas?" Lily ventured, clutching James' hand in a tight grip.
"I don't think he had an opinion either way, in all honesty. As I said, he was more preoccupied with books as a boy. His time as a member of staff has been rather unremarkable. I was rather surprised that he had such an interest in Alchemy, I thought it was merely a passing fancy for a subject at school."
"Have you contacted Nicolas?"
Albus blinked. "No. Should I?"
Ifan rolled his eyes. "You can play the doddering old man with your students, but not to me, Albus. You know why. If the professor who seems to know and understands Alchemy suddenly is acting twitchy then you need to keep a closer eye on the Stone. Which is Nicolas'. And not only that, if said professor seems to be an agent of the Dark Lord, who is possibly dying or at least very crippled, then the Stone would be a promising idea. Especially if he knows it is within your keeping."
It was silent for a moment before James piped up in a growl. "You're wanting him to make a move. Aren't you? This whole Stone thing, it's bait."
"It's not what you think, James." Albus protested, raising his hand to try and placate him
"Bullshit! If it isn't, then what is it? Because from where we are it looks like you're attempting a trap for Voldemort in a bloody school! A school with my daughter there! My daughter who is prophesied to defeat him!"
"You better not be training her, Albus." Lily threatened. "She is not a child soldier. If we find out that you've built...trials...for her to overcome then you will be sorry. We maybe a portrait - but she is part Fae, and they will not absolve you of this."
Albus quietly gulped, before closing his eyes. "It is not a test. I promise you. But it is a trap. For Voldemort. He won't attack Hogwarts, he values it too much, but he would be tempted to try his luck to grasp the Stone."
"So of course getting the Stone while school is in session is just an unfortunate side effect."
"It is regrettable, but the students are in no danger."
"You came here because Aster and her friend feels threatened! For Aster - a girl whose relationships with adults for most of her life up until the summer has been abysmal - to go to someone to express her concern is nothing to be taken lightly! Use your head, Albus!" Ifan burst out, standing up and striding to the window to look outside to regain his usual calm mood.
"I know, my friend, and I do not take it lightly. I merely wish to keep you informed of the goings on at Hogwarts, and the vigilance we need to keep. For him to act so openly, if it is indeed him, is desperate."
"Then why not sack him?"
"If only that I could, James. Unfortunately there are no grounds for dismissal - losing patience and temper is not enough, if it were then Severus would have been without a job as soon as he started. It is best he is in my eyeline."
"And the Stone? Nicolas and Perenelle do not deserve it to be ruined for your machinations, Albus."
"It is safe. I assure you. And I shall write to them, explain the situation."
"As will I. Don't give me your disappointed Professor face - they deserve the information without your platitudes."
"What are the steps to ensure the Stone, and thus everyone's, safety?" Lily asked in the rising tension.
"A number of...obstacles, designed by my fellow professors."
"Who? And what?"
"Minerva, with a chessboard -"
"Easily done, even with her skills."
"Pomona with a plant of some kind. She's thinking Devils Snare."
"Can be managed with a second year knowledge."
"Filius with charms. He hasn't quite decided but he's trying to think of a way to disguise the key to the next area."
"Bit more promising, depending on what he does."
"Severus with his Potions. He's going to make a series of them and hide poisons within it, along with charmed fire to prevent someone going through without the...retardant."
" Or here's an idea, just make it impossible to get passed the fire." James sneered, thinking it was typical of Snivellus to try and show off.
"One of us may need to get through." Albus pointed out calmly, taking another dainty sip of tea.
"Then make it keyed into your magical signatures. Who else?"
"Caleb will be doing something with Defence. He hasn't decided yet. I've had to...push down on some of his more zealous attempts."
"Why? You're trying to protect the damn thing."
"It could be harmful what he wanted to do."
"My question still stands." James snarked.
Ignoring him, Albus continued, "I think that's all. Except for myself of course. I have acquired the Mirror of Erised. I will place it inside the Mirror itself."
"Ugh, I hate that thing. And the person who made it, they were so pretentious." Ifan mused to himself. "I must agree with James on his remarks, Albus. These have clearly not been thought through. Its almost alarmingly obvious that you're hoping to get him to succeed. The only one that has any merits is the Mirror. And even that is not infallible. What if a child gets there?"
"Then what do you suggest, Ifan?"
"If you're set on bait, then make this course the bait. If needed make a damned copy of the Mirror at the end. A proverbial trophy. But keep the actual thing separate. Place it in your chambers, the attic, hell you can put it here. But it cannot be part of there. It is too simple, too obvious and far too easy."
"I'll say it again, Albus. If your goal is to mould my daughter into a child soldier, you will be sorry."
"Maybe it's not about Aster, or wholly about her." James thought outloud. "The Longbottom boy is in Aster's year, isn't he?"
"Yes. What're you thinking?"
"Well, he's the one people hero worship. I imagine it could have got into his head and thus thinks he needs to be the one to overcome things to do...something."
Albus ran his hand along his jaw as he thought. "I hadn't thought of that, in truth. It would not be too far out of the realms of possibility. Madam Pince has already had to give him detention for attempting to get into the Resteicted Section, and the portraits have overheard him and his friends talk of the Stone."
"They know about the Stone?!"
"Apparently. I've yet to discover how."
"Honestly, Albus, how are you keeping those children safe if they can find out things like that?" Ifan snapped before shaking his head. "No, I don't want to know. But I do want you to leave. You've given us information, and I thank you for that, but you've made us unnecessarily worry over the state of the school. Go back and make sure it hasn't collapsed in your absence."
With a nod of farewell the other Wizard was gone through the fireplace again.
Gods, what a mess. He needed to write to Nicolas, he needed to write to Aster, make sure she was happy to return home for Yule, find more information on what Sagina sent him, and then organise the house to resemble something of a home again.
It wasn't going to be a long week.
A/N:
Sorry about the amount of talking here but I couldn't think of a way to get this across without it sounding weird. Hence the title of the chapter.