Tapestry

Chapter Fourteen

As he was frog marched up the marble staircase, James couldn't shake the feeling that he was in trouble, that whatever gripe Dad held against the Headmaster and the lack of information about Richard, James was somehow responsible. He tried to put such anxious thoughts away from his mind, though this only brought his attention back to the edition of the Sunday Prophet and Rita's article, which was burning a hole under his arm as they walked.

James followed silently in his father's footsteps as they traced the familiar route towards the Hospital Wing. He wanted to look to Celesca for reassurance but didn't know what to communicate to her. His expectations didn't make much sense just now and any looks he was likely to give Celesca would probably be equally as confused. He was forced to stay quiet and look straight ahead, his anxiety growing as they neared their destination.

The Hospital Wing was thankfully quiet. Richard lay as still as ever on his bed at the far end of the ward and there was only one other bed occupied, though its occupant had drawn the curtains tight to prevent anyone seeing the results of a particularly nasty bout of acne. This served as an effective shield against the hero-worship hysteria, which James was familiar with, that greeted his father whenever he was seen in public. It made the brisk stroll to Richard a thankfully uneventful one.

“Is this him?”

“Yeah,” James replied. “He's a friend of mine, Richard.”

“And did you see what happened to him?” Dad asked in a business-like manner. “Were you there?”

“Yeah, he was bitten by a beetle as he tried to throw it out the window,” James recounted. “A few minutes later he was barely able to stand up and by the time Celesca, me and this other girl got him up here he was like this.”

“Who is this other girl? I might need to question her.”

“Q-question her?” asked James. “Is that necessary?”

“I'll be the judge of that,” said Dad. “If there is something Dark afoot I will need all the information I can get.”

“But she wasn't involved,” said James. “She saw it happen from nearby and came to help us. She's a friend, that's all. She wouldn't have anything to do with it.”

“Nothing can be ruled out,” said Dad. “The forces which are behind events like this operate in many and varied ways. A guilty conscience can be a powerful inducement to assistance.”

“Huh?”

“Do you mean she might have meant it for someone else but it got Richard instead, so she helped us because she felt bad?” asked Celesca, piping up to James's surprise.

James's watched as his father gave Celesca a deep, appraising look. “Very deductive. Have you ever thought of a career as an Auror? You have a sharp enough mind for it.”

“I…I haven't really thought about it,” said Celesca, blushing.

“You should then,” said Dad. “You think in the right way. We can never have too many people like that in the Auror office.”

James had a wild, fleeting thought that his father sounded like he was chatting up Celesca - James though that perhaps he was reminded so much of a young Aunt Hermione that he forgot himself. James interjected quickly to stamp his mark on the situation; he was sure Celesca liked him very much but she was clearly a bit start struck and James wasn't convinced he'd be able to out-duel his father if he had to fight for Celesca's heart.

“So have you ever seen anything like this before, Dad?” he said. “Can any sort of insect bite do this?”

“Nothing I've ever seen,” said Dad. “He's out cold, like he's been Petrified.”

Dad closed his eyes and shivered as a bad memory came back to him. James's attention was caught by Celesca, who was making surreptitious head movements in his direction. They had enough unspoken communication skills now for him to know she was egging him on to tell his dad about their theory concerning Rita. James hadn't thought who he was going to tell anyway and as his father was here he was as good a person as any.

“Dad, we sort of had an idea,” said James slowly.

“Sort of?” said Dad with a slight smirk. “I heard you had been doing a bit of investigating of your own.”

“Can't Aunt Hermione ever keep secrets?” said James.

Dad laughed. “She tried but I'm better at Occlumency than she is and she confessed all rather than have me find out her deepest, darkest secrets by attacking her mind.”

James almost choked. There was, without doubt, some aspect of his dad and aunt's relationship that was being kept from him. There was no other way of looking at it if his dad's inference was anything to go by.

“So, come on then,” said Dad, oblivious to James's discomfort. “What's this theory of yours?”

“Well, it's about Rita Skeeter,” said James bluntly. Dad perked up, interested. “We think she could be behind it.”

“Rita? How so?”

“We think she might be an Animagus and that her form is a beetle,” said James. “That's why I went to see Aunt Hermione. She'd know, being head of Magical Law and everything. We, that is, Celesca and I, think that Rita is a beetle and that somehow she got into the castle to spy on us for a story. When she was injured a few weeks ago we reckon it was from when she fell from Gryffindor Tower in her Animagus form. It wouldn't have been able to be healed by magic if she was hurt like that.”

James felt belittled by the look his father was giving him now, as though considering him anew. “That's a lucid and well-thought out argument,” he said, looking proud. James felt humbled. “It certainly fills a lot of blanks but what about the poisoning? Even as a beetle she wouldn't have been able to cause this.”

“We just stumbled onto an idea about that this morning,” said Celesca, taking over. “We aren't sure if it's possible, but we think Rita might have transfigured another object to be part of her when she transformed. This contained the poison rather than a bite. That's our idea, anyway.”

Celesca sounded less sure of the validity of their theory as she spoke and backed meekly away as she finished. James was happy that his father appeared to be giving their ideas a great deal of thought.

“What sort of object do you think this might have been?” he asked.

“A pen,” said James. “A Muggle pen, one that could dispense poison.”

“A fountain pen could do it,” said Dad, thoughtfully. “Ironic…a true poison pen.”

“That's what we thought!” cried Celesca triumphantly.

“It's certainly a possibility,” Dad continued. “Rita's whereabouts at the time of the attack would have to be confirmed, of course, and we would have to find out how she was getting into the castle.”

“Couldn't she just fly in?” asked James.

“Oh no,” said Dad. “There are preventative charms against that. She'd have to be brought in.”

“Is she definitely a beetle then?” James asked.

“Yes,” said Dad. “She isn't registered, either. She used to transform and get Slytherins to bring her into the castle to get stories about me. Hermione trapped her under a glass when she tried spying on us after the Triwizard. She blackmailed her to keep quiet but then we had to use her later.”

“Dad, you and Aunt Hermione aren't in charge of the Wizarding World, are you?” James blurted out.

Dad laughed loudly again. “No, James. I can see how that sounded and I'm sorry. It was self-defence more than anything. We said we'd reveal her as an unregistered Animagus if she didn't just disappear quietly. It's a crime punishable by a spell in Azkaban, you know. Still is, actually.”

“But all the stuff she's said,” said James quickly before he lost his nerve. “I haven't read the article she's written today but it can't be good. It isn't true, is it?”

“Of course not,” said Dad, ruffling James's hair. “Your Aunt and I, and Uncle Ron for that matter, are in positions of authority. We had such trouble with bungling inept government when we were young, which nearly cost us our lives, that we vowed not to let it be run by sub-standard people again. We aren't dictators, James. We do keep an eye on things from the inside, though. Don't listen to anything Rita writes; she's a bitter and twisted old hag and if any of what you've suggested about her turns out to be true I think I might twist your aunt's arm to land her that overdue spell under the care of the Dementors.”

James shuddered. He remembered vividly visiting Azkaban with his father several years ago. It was under the guise of a trip to places of note in the Wizarding World but James knew it was really to discourage him from being bad. His memory of the cold despair created by the Dementors prevented James doing anything worse than pinching the odd liquorice wand from the cellar of Honeydukes.

All three of them were suddenly disturbed by the opening of the doors at the far end of the ward. Two people entered; Headmaster Octavian, in a long flowing purple robe, flanked by Professor Roth. They strolled purposefully along the ward until they were standing face to face with James, his father and Celesca, who had all turned to meet them.

“Nice to see you, Alucian,” said Dad, shaking Professor Roth's hand.

“The pleasure is all mine, Harry,” Professor Roth replied warmly. “What brings you to this neck of the woods?”

“I would have thought that was obvious,” said Dad. He turned to look directly at Headmaster Octavian; now James had always been impressed verging on the over-awed by the Headmaster's imperious presence, but something was starkly different now. As he and his father faced up, James felt as though he were being hit by the shock waves of two great forces colliding. Bizarrely, James felt that it was his father whose presence was the most dominant; it filled the whole room and even Headmaster Octavian was dwarfed by it.

“Mr Potter,” said the Headmaster. “You are most welcome at Hogwarts.”

“Thank you, Headmaster,” said Dad with restraint. “I'm not the sort to mince words so I'll kindly ask you to explain why this event has not been reported to my office, even though it took place over a week ago.”

“We have been unable to ascertain the nature of the boy's sickness,” Headmaster Octavian explained. “There seemed no cause to trouble the authorities.”

Dad looked gobsmacked. “A student has been struck down in a mystery attack, you have no idea what caused his condition or even what that condition may be and…you didn't think it worthy of mention? Need I remind you, Headmaster, that any instance, or even potential instance, of Dark Magic, at Hogwarts or elsewhere, should be reported immediately. Fifteen year old edicts dictate the necessity of this.”

“I am aware of that,” said the Headmaster, looking uncharacteristically uncomfortable.

“Then you must have a better reason than the one you've given,” said Dad with such authority that James felt as though he were about to give the Headmaster detention.

“We thought it best not to create panic,” said Professor Roth. “The media were bound to pick up on it and with Rita Skeeter buzzing about again we thought we'd keep it low key. To tell the truth, we thought it would have cleared up by now but the boy is utterly unresponsive.”

“And you have no clues as to why?” said Dad, leaving Headmaster Octavian to his thoughts.

“It's clearly some sort of poison but nothing we've tried to cure him has worked,” said Professor Roth.

“Have you tried Muggle poison antidotes?” asked Dad. James was sure he gave him the most fleeting of glances but it was so swift it could have been a trick of the light.

“Muggle poisons?” said Professor Roth, looking intrigued. “No. Do you have reason to think one may be involved?”

“Possibly,” said Dad. “A theory was put to me regarding this situation. I have to look in to it but it could be a tack to try.”

“I'm not an expert on Muggle poisons,” said Professor Roth. “I know the Chief Healer of St Mungo's. I'll speak to her.”

“You do that, Alucian,” said Dad. “In the meantime I have to do a little questioning of my own. I'll show myself out, if you'll permit my son and his girlfriend to escort me out?”

“Of course,” said Professor Roth. “Good day, Harry.”

“And to you,” said Dad. He turned to Headmaster Octavian as he passed. “And I expect any future events of this nature to be reported immediately. You are given free reign here, Octavian, only because I knew a great Headmaster who did things in a similar manner. Don't make me reconsider this stance.”

The Headmaster bowed as Dad swept away with James and Celesca following quickly in his slipstream.

“Do you really have the power to replace the Headmaster?” asked James when they were out of earshot of the Hospital Wing.

“No, only the Board of Govenors can do that,” said Dad. He grinned. “Sounded impressive though, didn't it?”

James chuckled. “What are you going to do now?”

“For a start I have to pay a visit to Hermione,” Dad began. “She keeps the records of Animagi movements and she's an expert on Rita. If anyone can nail her, Hermione's the one. Then I have to do some research into Animagi transformations, to see if a foreign object can be incorporated into them. Knowing your aunt, though, she's probably already looked all that up and a big, fat dossier will be waiting for me tomorrow morning at the Ministry.”

“Have you and her always made such a good team?” asked Celesca. James thought it was bit of a loaded question but perhaps it would have been worse had he said it.

“Team?” laughed Dad. “It was mostly Hermione doing the work then me messing it up or ignoring it until I had no choice but to do what she suggested. She was the brains, I was the fool who made things more difficult than they needed to be. Some things never change.”

“Like what?” asked James.

“It'd take a lifetime to tell you,” said Dad. “Maybe I'll start one day, but not now. I've got a lot to do. Now you be good, and stay in school. If I hear that you've been up in the village outside of trip days again then I might reconsider letting you keep that old map of mine.”

“Yes, Dad,” said James obediently.

“Oh, and nick me a jar of Aniseed Gobstoppers next time you're under Honeydukes,” said Dad, his eyes twinkling. “Your mum loves them but I can never find them down in London. I'll be in touch. Goodbye, you two.”

Dad kissed James on the head, squeezed Celesca's shoulder like she was a member of the family and slipped through the open Main Door. James and Celesca watched until he was out of sight up the path before turning back inside. As it was Sunday there were no classes and they both discussed what to do with themselves. The dark part of James's mind had half an eye on the Forbidden Forest or a nearby broom cupboard but he didn't think the atmosphere was quite right to make a suggestion like that. Instead he allowed his feet to follow Celesca as she led the way up towards the Astronomy Tower.

“I've been thinking about what your dad said,” Celesca said. “About how Rita could only get around the castle if she was being let in. You don't think Cassie would be involved, do you?”

“No, of course not,” said James. “She's your best friend, though, so you'd be more of an expert. Why would she do a thing like that? What's she got to gain?”

“Well…” started Celesca, blushing shyly. “She's really, really jealous of me.”

James was startled by this. “Over what? She doesn't…you know…like me, does she?”

Celesca hooted with laughter. “You're so vain it's almost cute. Not everyone has the hots for you, honey.”

“Then why is she jealous?” asked James, feeling slightly aggrieved at the revelation that not every girl at Hogwarts was head over heels in love with him.

“Because of our relationship,” Celesca explained. “She keeps going on about how she wants a boyfriend, she has been for ages. It's got a bit tiresome, to be honest. Anyway, after we started going out she became really distant with me and it's because I've got what she wants. She's jealous that I've got a boyfriend and she doesn't.”

“Aren't you meant to be friends?” asked James. “That's a bit weird for her to be like that.”

“It's in a girl's nature to behave in strange ways sometimes,” Celesca agreed. “She'll be okay when she gets used to it.”

“So you think she might have wanted to get me out of the way with the beetle?”

“It's not impossible,” said Celesca.

“But not likely either,” said James. “Look how upset she is about what happened. I don't think she'd be like that if she was as cold-hearted as you are saying.”

“She's just upset because she fancies Richard,” said Celesca matter-of-factly.

“What!” said James, rounding on Celesca. By this time they were on the circular parapet and James wouldn't have been surprised if the shock had pushed him over the hand rail.

“Oh, isn't it obvious?” said Celesca exasperatedly. “She's liked him since she dumped you at that Christmas party. She said he's really nice when he's not trying to prove he's worthy of being your friend. They've been spending a lot of time together since we've been going out. She likes him a lot.”

“If that's true, and I'm not sure you've got that right, then why doesn't she ask him out?” asked James.

“Because she isn't sure if she likes him enough,” said Celesca. “And she doesn't know if he even likes her; then there's the fact that we haven't been going out long and she's afraid people will think she's just copying us with the first boy who'll have her; she's probably a little worried about what people will think about her going out with him anyway and then she's trying to work out if all the positives outweigh the negatives to make it worth the risk.”

“No,” said James, shaking his head. “A person couldn't think all those things at one time.”

“Why not?”

“They'd explode if they did!” said James.

“Typical boy,” said Celesca. “Just shut up and kiss me.”

To James's immense surprise and delight, Celesca flung her arms around his shoulders as they embraced. It wasn't crude like the broom cupboard or muddy like the Forest; it was picturesque and romantic up here but Celesca's mind had obviously been a bosom buddy of James's in the gutter. He loved that they were so alike.

* * *

Later, considerably so, James and Celesca were to be found cwtching up on the sofa in the Gryffindor Common Room. James had decided it was time to brave the murky waters of Rita's article and so he read while Celesca turned the pages, allowing his hands the freedom to rub her shoulders and massage her head. It may have seemed to others like servitude but James was quietly convinced he had the better deal.

THE POTTER CONSPIRACY

A Rita Skeeter Special

For many years the Wizarding World has been in awe of the famed Boy Who Lived, later known as the Teen Who Killed in many circles. The defeat by Harry Potter of He Who Must Not Be Named ranks as one of the greatest Wizarding events of all time. But amid all the joy of the evil Lord's defeat certain telling questions were never asked. Why was it Potter against You-Know-Who? What pitted one against the other? A notorious Dark Lord against a mediocre seventeen year old hardly seems a fair match. Unless, of course, Harry Potter was no mere school boy but an ambitious student with an eye for Dark Magic which outweighed even that of his deadly rival.

Yes, rival. Not in the battle of Good vs. Evil but one of dark lord against dark lord. Harry Potter fought against You-Know-Who not to save the world, but to help himself to it unchallenged in the aftermath. With the assistance of his equally ambitious and plain friend, Hermione Weasley (nee Granger), Potter disposed of the Dark Lord and took his place at the head of the Magical World. If you doubt this ask yourself one question - multiple eye witness testimony states that Potter used the Expelliarmus charm against the Killing Curse, Avada Kedavra. This curse is unblockable and only Potter himself has ever survived it. Not once, but twice. How is this possible, you may well ask? Dark Magic is the only answer.

“This is ridiculous trash,” cried James. “I'm not reading any more of it.”

“I agree it sounds stupid,” said Celesca. “Look at this though, about your dad and aunt; `in constant contact,' `personal relationship creating conflict of professional interest,' `race of super children at Hogwarts, recruiting members,' how cute - that must be me; `out of office meetings', `spouses suspicious'.”

“What was that last bit?” said James. He flicked the page to follow the story. There was a large picture of his father and aunt at lunch, their heads very close together and looking very suggestive. “Ron Weasley, long suffering husband of Potter's partner-in-tyranny, is regularly out of his own office. Work colleagues suggest he is spying on his wife. Judging by these photos he has good reason to be worried.”

“Now, James, before you explode,” said Celesca, scenting danger.

“How dare…that cow!” James cried. “She's trying to split my family in two!”

“Well, I …yes I can see what you mean,” said Celesca.

“She's trying to make my mum and my uncle doubt Dad and Aunt Hermione,” said James. “She's trying to make life hard for them because they made it hard for her.”

“I would have thought you'd be more worried about what she's saying about their relationship,” said Celesca.

“She can go shag herself,” said James angrily. “I don't believe anything she says.”

Unfortunately for James, he seemed to be in the minority on this. During the next day the other students seemed to be giving him a wide berth. Many of them looked worried, as though he were about to Imperius Curse them into joining his army of super children to dominate Hogwarts. During their classes the tables around them were the last to fill up and were done so only as a last resort and very reluctantly at that. James grew so annoyed with this after lunch that he even took out his wand and waved it at some Hufflepuff boys during Herbology, muttering some nonsense words. Even though they must have known this wasn't real magic they complained to Professor Longbottom who told James off despite sympathising with him.

“Just because Rita has been writing more trash you can't go around scaring students,” said the Professor. “I can understand your frustrations but don't take them out on the others. People tend to believe the newspapers.”

“But it's all lies!” said James passionately.

“I know that, and so do you,” said Professor Longbottom. “And that's all that matters. It was the only thing that mattered to your father and you should be the same. He had me and Ron and Hermione on his side and it was enough for him. You keep Miss Shaw and your other friends close and ignore the rest.”

James was buoyed by the Professor's words and Michael Charteris, who was working on the trough next to him, winked his support at him. The two Hufflepuff boys looked nervously across from the other side of the bench.

“Hey fellas,” whispered Michael after Professor Longbottom left. “You tell on James again and I'll hex the face off you. I let him put me under the Imperius, begged him even, and I can do all his seriously evil magic. I'll make you grow another bum out of your head if you don't keep your mouth shut.”

James bit his lip to hold a laugh in and Celesca was rocking silently at his side. James couldn't look for too long at the faces of the Hufflepuff boys; on the one hand, they looked so frightened it was comical and on the other he couldn't stop picturing them with extra buttocks on their foreheads. Celesca seemed to be in a similar condition and it got so bad for her that she asked to be excused to use the bathroom and James could hear her laughing on the way out.

At dinner that night they were just about to tuck into dessert when to their, and the rest of the hall's, surprise two owls flew in one after the other and dropped letters into their laps. Celesca recognised the handwriting on hers as belonging to her aunt and tore open the letter quickly.

“Why would she be writing to you?” asked James, digging into a slab of mint chocolate ice cream.

“I, er, thought it might be an idea to ask her if she knew anything about your dad and aunt,” said Celesca, quickly. “Are you mad?”

“Mad! No, it's a brilliant idea!” said James, dropping his spoon. “What does she say?”

“Dear Cellykins,” Celesca read, embarrassed. “She always calls me that. I was so happy to get you letter but so surprised by what you asked. To answer, I have to say I'm not sure either way. They are both married now so I wouldn't have thought they'd ever been together - it would make it awkward for poor Ron and Ginny if they were. They never went out when I knew them, but one time when Harry was kind enough to invite me to a little Christmas party he spent most of it with Hermione. He seemed annoyed that she was there with another boy and I did think he'd preferred to have gone with her. She never really liked me so I never got to see them much up close. Harry did save her first, though, when we fought Death Eaters at the Ministry of Magic, but he was always so heroic that it could mean nothing. I like Harry very much and I don't think he'd ever cheat on his wife. I hope I've been of some help.

Hope to see you in the summer,

Auntie Luna.

“We'll add her to the list, shall we?” said James despondently.

“It still isn't definite though,” Celesca pointed out. “Though how romantic is it that he saved your aunt from the Death Eaters. Like saving one thing from a burning building, isn't it?”

“Cel - you aren't helping,” said James.

“Oh right…sorry,” said Celesca. “What was your letter about?”

“Oh yeah,” said James, who'd forgotten that he had also got mail. He opened the envelope and a small scrap of paper slid out from inside. James felt his heart stop as he read the hurried handwriting. “James - Lily has run away. Me and your Dad think she might be trying to get to Hogwarts - Rita Skeeter will have hell to pay if anything happens to her. Stay there and let us know if you hear from her. Love Mum”

James just stared at the paper. Celesca read over his shoulder.

“Oh Merlin be merciful…” she said quietly.

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