A Notice in the Daily Prophet
During their Christmas holiday, Freya and Aiden took many walks together through the snowy lanes and woodlands of Druid’s Grove. On the last Saturday before the start of school, Aiden brought Freya into his house on an afternoon when his sister and mother were out shopping. They sat by the fire, held hands, and kissed.
“What are we going to do on Monday when we’re back at school?” asked Freya.
Aiden’s face became stern, grim. “We’ve got to act like we’re nothing to one another. Walk by me like I don’t even exist.”
Freya gazed at him with pain in her eyes. “Is that what you really want?”
He held her cheeks in his hand and gazed tenderly at her. “I can’t have Dennison targeting you because I smiled at you. That’s what happened to Jill. I don’t want that to happen to you.”
She pulled away from him, but then lay with her head on his chest. She could hear his racing heart and feel his desire pressing upward against her leg. He really loves me, she decided.
He doesn’t just pity me, like Ben does. He loves me and he wants me.
“Are you ever going to tell me about your little conspiracy against Dennison?”
He let out a soft laugh. “It won’t be a conspiracy until I bring you into it. Right now, it’s just a vague idea. Nothing concrete.”
“Can you tell me about it anyway?”
“No. You’ll laugh. It’s absurd. A one in a million chance.” She lifted her head and gazed into his eyes. “When I see the opening I’m looking for, I’m going to move, and I want you to come with me.”
She nodded. “I’ll do it. Just give me the signal.”
“What about you and your coven? And your complicated relationship with Benedict Took?”
“I’ll deal with my coven. Monday morning, I will be Benedict Took’s girlfriend. And I’m going to ignore you.”
On Monday, January 10th, 2011, Liam and Patrick headed back to school. Their mother had to go to work, but Uncle Charlie took the boys to the train station and rode with them to King’s Cross station. Liam wore a wool fedora and a black scarf of soft wool. Both had been Christmas presents.
They arrived at King’s Cross and had to make their way from Platform 6 to Platform 10. At the barrier, the boys shook their uncle’s hand. Liam sent Patrick through the barrier, and he followed right afterwards.
Platform 9 ¾ was full of students and families saying good-bye. The two boys made their way along the platform, looking for their friends. Gillian emerged from the crowd and gave Liam a big kiss.
Hi! Happy New Year!
“Happy New Year to you, too,” said Liam.
Nice hat. But what’s up with this scarf?
“What’s wrong with the scarf? It matches the hat just fine.”
It’s giving off a weird vibe. She leaned forward and held the scarf up to her face.
“Look, I just grabbed this scarf because I knew it would be cold up at school.”
There was a flash of anger in Gillian’s eyes. You didn’t pick this scarf. It picked you! It’s from HER. Why is SHE buying you clothes?
Liam was about to argue when he realized that Gillian was correct, that this must be the scarf he received as a gift from Morwena Felwich. “Look, Wen and I, we’re friends. She has a boyfriend, and I have you. I sent her cookies, and she sent me a present back.”
You call her ‘Wen’ now, like you’re best buddies. She better not try to talk to you today.
“She won’t talk to me unless there’s prefect business, which is really unlikely this early in the term.”
They had hardly settled in their cabin, however, when a note slipped under the door and flew into Liam’s hand. He opened it with care while Gillian steamed beside him. There was Morwena’s flowery script.
Liam, please swing by my compartment when you have a moment. There is something I need to discuss with you. Fondly, Wen.
The paper was enchanted. Liam held it in front of his mouth and said, “I’ll be along after lunch. See you then. Liam.” The words appeared on the page as if he had written them. He gave the note a shake. It turned back into a paper aeroplane and shot from the room.
“See?” said Liam. “Prefect business.”
It had better be.
On the crowded platform, Freya searched for Benedict. Once she had pushed Aiden from her mind, her longing for Benedict returned. She wanted to see him, to have a moment with him before Alyssa and Meriko got to him.
Aiden is just someone to kill time with, she told herself. We were just having a little fun over the break. It doesn’t mean anything. Not yet. Ben is still my boy. He loves me at least as much as he loves the other two.
It was getting nigh on eleven o’clock. Just when she was feeling it was hopeless, he came through the barrier with his sister. Freya rushed to his side. He smiled warmly at her and pulled her into a hug. She kissed him on the mouth.
“Hi!” he said.
“Hi.” She grinned. Her cheeks were burning. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, too,” he said tenderly.
Alyssa and Meriko arrived together. Meriko got a hug from Ben while Alyssa greeted Bell. Freya had yet to give up her spot at Ben’s side, so Alyssa waited until Meriko had received her hug and kiss before moving in and getting her own.
The four found a compartment and settled in. Freya stayed glued to Ben’s side and sunk her head into his shoulder while the other girls looked on.
Alyssa leaned back and in a sly voice said, “I ran into Aylie Covenshire over the break. She had some interesting gossip to share with me.” She stared malevolently at Freya, who gazed warily back. This was a warning to Freya that Alyssa knew about the caroling and how Freya was holding hands with Aiden Thompson. She won’t know about the kisses, Freya reminded herself. She won’t find out unless I tell her.
Alyssa was content for the moment with her warning. Her face brightened, and with a conspiratorial smile, said, “Her big sister Tess dumped her boyfriend, Pierce Mageford, over the break, and then hooked up with another guy right afterwards. A much older guy, as I understand it.”
Since she had been let off the hook, at least temporarily, Freya leapt in with what she knew. “Yes! We went caroling and we ran into Robert Kaufmann, which Tess and Wennie both knew. They did some sort of project with him as Firsties, though Wennie wouldn’t tell me what it was all about.”
Meriko: “So this new boy is older than Pierce? Is he older even than Reid?”
Freya: “Yes! He’s like seven years older than she is or something. Wennie says Tess never thinks it’s strange, dating older boys, since her dad is so much older than her mum.”
The conversation drifted to other topics. Freya stayed at Benedict’s side, relishing the feel of his thigh against his, and thinking about the kiss he gave her in greeting. I am not thinking about Aiden Thompson right now, she told herself. Not yet.
Liam enjoyed the company of his Gryffindor friends all through lunch. In the compartment with him and Gillian were Paul, Dave, Adam and Larry, plus Alma and the junior boy prefect. The conversation was loud and boisterous. Gillian and Alma more than held their own in a room with all those gregarious boys.
After lunch, Liam got to his feet. “I need to see Felwich about something,” he said.
“I’m coming, too,” said Gillian. She had switched to verbal communication in preparation for being back at school.
They walked down the corridor and into the next car, where they found Morwena and her girlfriends in a large compartment. Tess was sitting next to Morwena. Philip sat between Rhiannon and Pauline.
“Hullo, all,” said Liam.
“Oh Wren,” said Morwena, beaming, “that scarf looks smashing on you.”
“Thanks.”
Morwena gave Gillian a look that said, You weren’t invited, but you’re here, and we’re playing nice. “Roycester, did you have a nice Christmas?”
“Yes, I did, thank you,” said Gillian, coolly.
“What did you need to talk to me about?” asked Liam.
Morwena reached down and pulled from her bag a copy of the Daily Prophet. It was from a few days prior. “Check out the main story below the fold, on the right,” she said, handing the newspaper to Liam.
He took it and glanced at the headline: McGonagall to be Honoured at Banquet. The story read as follows:
Minerva McGonagall, current Headmistress of Hogwarts, has been named a Grand Dame of the Dianic Order by decree of the Minister of Magic. She will be feted at a banquet on January 28th. The event will include speeches from current and former staff members, including her deputy, Franz Gregor. Harry Potter is expected to give the keynote. McGonagall served as Transfiguration instructor under Albus Dumbledore ….
Gillian, reading over Liam’s shoulder, said, “Oh yeah, I heard about this.”
Liam looked wryly at Morwena. “They couldn’t do this while we were on our break?”
“I’m sure Professor McGonagall is thinking the same thing,”
“Gregor’s going to be here, too? And probably half the staff,” said Liam.
“More than half the staff,” said Morwena.
“It’ll be a good night for shenanigans,” said Liam. “Did you talk to Lara about this yet?”
“Yes, I did.”
“How was she?”
“Solemn.”
Liam nodded, and his smile became grim. “That means you’re onto something, here, Wen. We better bring the Gryffindors into the loop.”
“I was hoping you would talk to them,” said Morwena.
“I’ll do it,” said Liam. “I’ll go to them right now.” He fished his Witchter ball out of his pocket. “Jill got me this for Christmas. Not as fun as sending a paper aeroplane down the hallway, but more efficient.”
“Oh, perfect,” said Morwena. “Let’s connect.” She drew her own ball out of her purse. Liam leaned over and they tapped their two orbs together.
“I’ll give you an update before we reach the station,” said Liam. He led Gillian out into the hallway once more.
Gillian switched back to telepathy. You really had to connect with her.
“Yes, I did. As senior prefects and fellow prefect coordinators, Wen and I have to keep in touch.”
You’re doing it again. You’re calling her Wen, like she’s your girlfriend.
“Well, she’s not. You are.”
She didn’t think it was important to bring in Sadie?
“We’ll talk to Sadie about this. Right now, I need to talk to Dave and Alma.”
They walked back to the compartment with the other Gryffindors. Larry was sitting next to Alma, now, his arm around her. Paul, Dave and Adam sat across from them. “What did Felwich want?” asked Dave.
“McGonagall’s getting some award,” said Liam.
“Yes, we heard about that,” said Alma.
“Half the staff is going to the party,” continued Liam. “If there’s going to be trouble, it’s going to be on a night like that.”
“I can see Wolfie getting into it with Nolan Marret,” agreed Dave. They still called Teddy Lupin “Wolfie” on account of his werewolf father.
“Or my brother mixing with that Dennison creep,” said Liam. “The priority is keeping the Gryffindors separated from the Slytherins.”
Paul chimed in. “You know, this sounds like the perfect time for a House Party.”
“Yeah!” said Gillian. “We’ll get some good food from the kitchens, and some butterbeer. We’ll get some music going. It’ll be a blast! I got a Quidditch highlight video for Christmas. I could have my mum owl it over.”
“A party is the way to go,” agreed Dave. “We’ll keep everyone in the tower. If the Slytherins want to start something, they’ll have to start it with someone else.”
“Sorry, Wren,” said Paul, “but this will be a Gryffindor-only party.”
“So long as you keep my brother out of trouble, I’m fine with it,” said Liam, laughing.
“We will keep Patrick and company under our thumbs,” said Alma. “But the less we say about this party, the better. Let’s keep it under wraps until the night of. We need to keep everyone focused on their studies, and not on a party that’s three weeks out.”
“Alma,” said Paul, “that is why they made you prefect.”
Liam looked to Gillian. “Now, let’s go find Sadie and bring her into the loop.”
They found Sadie in another car. She was sitting with the other Ravenclaw girl prefect and some of their charges. The girls listened to what Liam had to say, then Sadie summoned Ronald Reuel so that he could hear the plan. Calliope Addlessen came with him.
“I don’t see what any of this has to do with us,” said Calliope. “Our House won’t be running amok with the teachers gone.”
“I agree,” said Ronald. “So long as the Gryffindors stick to their plan, we should be good. Dennison isn’t going to start a fight with the Ravenclaws or Hufflepuffs. If the Gryffs are in their tower, all he can do is shadow-box.”
“Still, I think we should all retreat to our common rooms that night,” said Liam. “Keep everybody off the board. It’s hard to predict what a kid like Dennison will do.”
“I think you’re over-reacting,” said Calliope. “Nothing is going to happen.”
“I hope you’re right,” said Liam.
Liam swung by Morwena’s compartment and gave her another update, including the assertions by Ronald and Calliope. “Cal is, rather belatedly, asserting her authority,” said Morwena, dryly. “Making a late play for Head Girl, I suppose. Thank you, Liam. We have a good plan in place now. I really could not have organized something like this without your help. You are a far less polarizing figure than I am.”
As Liam and Gillian made their way back to their friends, Gillian leaned against him and gave him a squeeze. So, that’s it, right? We’ve got January 28th all sorted?
Liam shook his head. “We’ve got a good plan, but we haven’t executed it yet. If Lara’s got a bad feeling about that date, then we’re headed for trouble. It’s not sorted until Lara says it’s sorted.”