Chapter 5
“Well, that was an adventure,” said Evelyn.
“You nearly died. Scratch that we nearly died,” said Genevieve. However, she couldn’t help but smile.
“Oh sure,” but we also solved a mystery and had a bit of an adventure. Not to mention nearly dying isn’t that uncommon at this point,” Evelyn pointed out nonchalantly.
“I’m not sure that’s a good thing,” laughed Genevieve. They reentered the shop to find Penny.
“Oh you’re back!” exclaimed the elf joyfully.
“You were worried?” said Genevieve who liked the sweet elf.
“Yes. Penny was beginning to fear that another shopkeeper would end up in Saint Mungo’s.
“Ah yes that reminds me. We’ve got one more thing to do,” said Evelyn.
“Report Cassandra to the proper authorities?” said Genevieve.
“Well yes, but also make sure those authorities actually DO something. Now at least we have proof between our experience and the testimony of Fastidio and Penny.”
“Off to Officer Singer then,” said Genevieve without much hope in the woman. They headed out of the shop to find Singer. It was nearing sunset now. It wasn’t difficult to track down the woman in a town as small as Hogsmeade. They received what seemed like a very rehearsed smile as they walked up.
“Ah hello, good to see you two.”
“Hello Officer Singer. We’ve a crime to report,” said Genevieve.
“If it’s about Harlow again I’ve told Miss Onai…” began Singer irritably.
“ACTUALLY, it’s about Cassandra Mason,” said Evelyn interrupting the tirade with an arched eyebrow. “She sold us a shop then tried to drive us mad in a haunted dungeon.”
“Cassandra Mason sold you, her shop?” asked Singer in surprise.
“Yes, but I think you may have missed the bit about the dungeon of madness,” quipped Genevieve tersely. Ruth quickly shook her head.
“Oh no I heard that too.” Evelyn sighed this was clearly going about as well as expected.
“According to the house elf that came with the shop she’s done this repeatedly and every shopkeeper ended up in St. Mungo’s mad while Cassandra got to buy back the shop at a cheap price.”
“Hmmm. I wondered what was going on. She did seem to have a great deal of trouble keeping a tenant in that shop.”
“AND YOU DIDN’T THINK TO INVESTIGATE?!” exclaimed Genevieve indignantly. Singer huffed.
“I’m a severely busy woman Miss Fig. We can’t all gallavant about the highlands on adventures. These are serious accusations. Perhaps a visit with Cassandra is in order to clear this all up.”
“I don’t exactly know what’s to ‘clear’ up but if it’ll get her arrested then yes, we’ll go,” said a frustrated Evelyn. They followed the auror to Cassandra’s.
“Ah Officer Singer and my two young tenants,” said the older woman with an all too innocent smile. “To what do I owe the honor?”
“These two children have been telling me some interesting tales regarding you selling them your shop. Perhaps you could come…” Faster than any of them expected Cassandra whipped out her wand and blasted back Singer with a stunning spell. The auror fell to the ground. Weakly she raised her hand. “Stop her.”
Dumbstruck by the incompetence of the wizarding authorities Genevieve focused on Cassandra who’d apparated behind her.
“You couldn’t just go mad like the others?” she sneered.
“You picked the wrong girls. After Ranrok and Rookwood your little poltergeist was pathetic in comparison,” replied Genevieve flicking her wand at the earth around Cassandra’s feet and causing it to crack with a bombarda sending her off balance. It was a bit of an overstatement but the witch needn’t know that. The woman apparated, behind her but Evelyn had her back and hit the woman with a depulso as soon as she appeared. Cassandra stumbled again and Genevieve tossed a nearby rock at her before deflecting her attempt to do the same.
An ancient magic blast had Cassandra gasping and allowed Evelyn to freeze her with glacius. As a film of ice covered her Genevieve shouted.
“Expelliarmus!” and the wand flew from the elder witch’s hand. A final descendo from Evelyn had the witch down for good. Footsteps sounded behind them and Genevieve saw Singer finally approach.
“Incarcerous!” said the woman and Genevieve resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Sure let them do the work and she gets the final blow.
“I’m disappointed in you Cassandra,” said Singer. “I always wondered why you couldn’t keep a tenant.”
Then why didn’t you DO ANYTHING?!” Evelyn mouthed to Genevieve behind the woman’s back.
“You’re making a big mistake!” shouted Cassandra.
“No you made the mistake,” said Ruth. Then she glanced back at the girls. “You two best be getting back now.” Then she disapparated with Cassandra.
“Not so much as a thank you,” snorted Evelyn.
“What did we expect competence?” snorted Genevieve.
“They HATED you stopped a goblin rebellion. They probably wouldn’t like this either,” said Evelyn. “The authorities don’t like to be shown as lacking.”
“Then they ought to start actually DOING something. Then it wouldn’t be left to civilians to cope with all the trouble,” scoffed Genevieve.
“That would require self-reflection and humility. You won’t get that from the wizarding government,” Evelyn told her flatly. “Let’s get back to Penny and let her know she needn’t worry about Cassandra anymore and then we’ve got to pick up Garrick.”
“He’ll be upset he missed the fun,” chortled Genevieve.
“Probably for the best. For Fastidio’s sake. If he got near my little brother…” Evelyn let the threat hang and Genevieve had no doubt the girl would have found some way to make the ghost suffer if he’d hurt Garrick. It was in her nature to be both vengeful and defensive. And Genevieve adored her best friend for it.
HL
Garrick had indeed been miffed to hear what he’d missed out on. Before picking him up they’d stopped by and spoken with Penny who was indeed overjoyed at the fact that she was no longer forced to serve Madame Mason. They actually chose to free the little elf. Giving her at hat with a daisy on it that they found however Penny still chose to stay on saying that she liked the idea of working in a shop and couldn’t think of anything else she wanted to do.
It sort of made freeing her pointless to Genevieve’s mind but she supposed at least this way Penny always had the OPTION to leave if she chose.
Ominis and Sebastian were exasperated and entertained respectively by the whole endeavor when it was relayed over dinner.
“A WEEK. A WEEK was all it took for you to get yourself into chaos,” said Ominis shaking his head.
“Pay up,” said Sebastian.
“What did you bet on?” asked Genevieve as Ominis passed some money over to the other Slytherin.
“How long it would take you to find trouble. Ominis had more faith.” Evelyn took a half a roll and chucked it at Sebastian hitting him in the cheek.
“Oi!” Sebastian shrugged.
“Don’t hate the messenger.”
“At least we got a shop out of it,” sighed Genevieve.
“Will you tell your father?” asked Ominis.
“Oh yes. He needs to hear the lengths the incompetence with the authorities has spread to. It’s only getting worse.”
“Have fun with that. I’m sure Uncle El will be thrilled,” said Evelyn dryly.
“Well, how else am I going to explain the shop?” shrugged Genevieve.
“Most people aren’t nearly so honest with their guardians,” Sebastian explained as if to a child and Genevieve rolled her eyes. She would always do her best never to deceive her father.
HL
Genevieve practically skipped up the stairs to her father’s office. She knew he probably wouldn’t be thrilled about her rather dangerous adventure but shouldn’t be too upset as she had escaped rather unscathed. The door was partially open so she pushed it further and began speaking without taking in the room.
“Honestly Papa I really don’t know if the local constabulary should even COUNT as the police anymore. Sometimes I swear Officer Singer is actually TRYING to let the criminals get away it’s absolutely…” her tirade was cut off when she noticed her father was NOT alone. Standing by the mantel was Madame Moreau. Genevieve felt her cheeks redden. She bobbed a curtsy and instinctively swapped to the French drilled into her by the nuns in the orphanage.
“Oh! Desolee Madame!” The blond witch however looked amused and with a slight smile replied in the same language.
“Please continue. It seems the authorities have not improved since my last visit to this country.”
“A futile hope I fear,” said Genevieve’s father. Before swapping back to English. “Now what did you DO that had you tangling with the authority’s daughter of mine?” his bushy white brow was raised though he appeared more resigned than angry at this point.
“There was a haunted shop in Hogsmeade Evelyn and I bought at a discount. But there was a discount because it was haunted by a poltergeist the witch that sold us the shop used to drive people mad. We beat the poltergeist and helped capture the witch BUT not before she stupified Singer in one shot and left us to deal with the fall out. Then took the credit.”
Genevieve said this all in a rush. When she was finished her father sighed closing his eyes.
“And how many times did you nearly die?”
“Only Evelyn did this time. I was just a bit tired and sick of the mannequins the prat Fastidio kept throwing at us.” Madame Moreau let out a laugh.
“Mon dieu Eleazar you were right. Miriam in miniature.” Her voice was accented however her English itself was flawless.
“You knew my mother Madame?” asked Genevieve politely. Moreau nodded.
“Difficult not to with how her research took her all over the world. She came to visit Beauxbatons and compare the school’s magic with that of Hogwarts.”
“She was always miffed they never let her near Durmstrang though,” said Genevieve’s father fondly.
“Why not?” asked Genevieve. Moreau chuckled.
“I’m afraid Durmstrang tends to prefer to be secretive about its magic rather than encourage the sharing of joint ideas to further the study of magic. Not that I mean to speak ill of them they are a talented and formidable school for sure.”
“Hence Miriams annoyance,” chuckled Genevieve’s father.
“Well maybe this program will change things?” suggested Genevieve. Moreau and her father smiled.
“Perhaps. At least once the students get over the disappoint of not getting to risk their necks,” said her father. Moreau rolled her eyes.
“They knew the chances Eleazar. And we were going to be MORE careful.”
“Sending children that haven’t left school into dangerous trials isn’t careful,” growled Genevieve’s father.
“Were you intending to compete Miss Fig?” asked Madame Moreau.
“Over father’s dead body,” snorted Genevieve. “No. As you may have noticed I can find plenty of danger on my own.”
“Perhaps we ought to just send the students out into the highlands then if they are so keen to risk themselves?” suggested Moreau. “With your daughter as a guide.”
“I fear I’m gaining a reputation,” muttered Genevieve.
“And I’m gaining a weak heart,” groaned her father.
“Come now she can’t do worse than Miriam. By much,” said Moreau. “And speaking of a guide perhaps you could tell your daughter what you just told me?”
“Ah yes, I wanted to let you know the foreign students have been told they can approach you, Miss Onai, or Mr. Black if they need short term assistance.” Genevieve raised her eyebrows.
“Press ganging your children into service of this event?” asked Genevieve teasingly.
“Consider it helping,” suggested her father with a playful smile.
“Do you KNOW how much of a disaster anyone asking me for directions is going to be?” she pointed out.
“Well then you can always consult your friends. They’ve kept you from missing enough classes,” said Professor Fig. Then added to Madame Moreau. “I’m afraid dear Genevieve has a bit of a direction problem.” Genevieve grumbled.
“I’d be more upset…But you aren’t wrong.” Moreau laughed.
“When I returned to Beauxbatons as Headmistress I found myself quite turned around.” Genevieve appreciated the woman’s words and thus didn’t point out it probably hadn’t taken three years.
“I’ll certainly try to help out to the best of my ability.” She promised and her father smiled pulling her into a side hug.
“My pride and joy.” Warmth filled Genevieve at his words.
“You have every reason to be. Especially after that business with Ranrok. I can only be thankful you stopped it before it reached outside Britain. The results otherwise could have been catastrophic.”
Genevieve gave a humble smile.
“Practically anyone else would have done the same.” Moreau shook her head.
“Few in your position would have risen to the challenge and I say that as someone that takes great pride in my students. It takes a special sort of person to display such courage.”
“As I’ve told everyone I couldn’t have managed it without my father and friends.”
“It’s good to have such solid support,” Moreau told her then nodded to Professor Fig.
“Well I think we’ve said all that’s necessary for now Eleazar. Though I will take you and Dinah up on that offer for a drink at the Three Broomsticks in the near future. One can only take so many pretentious dinners with Professor Black.”
Genevieve laughed as her father replied.
“We’ll try to rescue you, Marguerite. Thank you for stopping by.”
“Aurevoir Madame,” said Genevieve waving.
“Aurevoir Genevieve.” Once the Headmistress was out of earshot she turned to her father.
“She seems nice.”
“Indeed. Marguerite has been a good friend. Both before and in the wake of losing Miriam.” Genevieve noticed that it seemed to be becoming far easier for her father to speak of her mother. There was a great deal less pain and sadness in his tone and he would more often be the one to bring her up.
“It’s amazing how loved she was. You both are really.” Her father hummed.
“My work has always been more in the theoretical. Our travels no doubt helped it but without her curious spirit to send us running all over I’m not sure I would have gone half the places or met most of the people I did.”
“No you mentioned once you wanted to work for the Ministry,” Genevieve wrinkled her nose in disgust as she said the name. “I’m not japing when I said I wonder if Singer is purposefully incompetent.”
“You’d need significant proof for that,” said her father. “Not that I doubt your claims of her lack of usefulness.”
“What kind of an auror doesn’t investigate suspicious activity, gets taken by surprise walking up to a potential dark witches house, then lies on the ground after one stunner and leaves it to school children to stop the dark witch? I took worse when I was fifteen!”
“Please don’t remind me of that fact,” her father said wryly looking a bit pained. “That does indeed seem surprisingly…lax for an auror. The training alone is rigorous.”
“Can you speak to Professor Sharp about it? Maybe get his thoughts?” suggested Genevieve. Her father nodded and she was once more reminded of one more reason she loved him. He always took her seriously.
“I’ll bring it up. I can’t promise anything since it lacks a concrete basis for investigation but as we’ve learned better safe than sorry.”
“Thank you, Papa,” said Genevieve as she took a sip of the tea she was handed.
“You’re welcome. Now, tell me about this shop of yours….”
HL
Eleazar couldn’t say he was SHOCKED that his daughter had managed to get herself into danger by the week’s end. Though poltergeists were small potatoes compared to her usual brand of trouble.
That said Professor Onai had mentioned her concerns that Natsai might be looking into the gang activity around Hogwarts. Which to Eleazar’s mind meant that Genevieve would inevitably end up involved. It exasperated and worried him. He did think with some pride that in a way this did prove she had some Gryffindor in her after all.
He made his way to the dungeons where he found Aesop in his office.
“Eleazar, to what do I owe the pleasure?” asked the younger man.
“Can’t I come visit a colleague?” asked Eleazar jokingly.
“You hate how cold the dungeons are if it wasn’t something at least slightly concerning you’d have just approached me in the staff room.”
“There’s those auror skills at work. The Ministry sorely misses your competence,” said Eleazar with a smile.
“They’d only have had me pushing papers. I doubt I’d actually have been of any use,” snorted Aesop as Eleazar sat down across from him.
“It’s regards to auror competence I wanted to speak with you. What do you know about Ruth Singer?”
“Not much she was a trainee right about the time I left the force,” said Aesop.
“Well according to Genevieve she’s criminally lax in her duties. Almost suspiciously so.”
“You think she’s turned?” asked Aesop looking serious at the possibility.
“I think regardless of whether it’s intentional or not an auror making two Hogwarts students solve a case and capture a dark witch for them because they couldn’t do their job is dangerous.”
“True. And more so if it is intentional. Do I want to know what your daughter was up to that she was helping capture a dark witch?” asked Aesop. Eleazar snorted.
“Want? Probably not. But it would likely help you to have the details.” Aesop sighed.
“A couple years ago I’d have suggested we try harder to keep them out of trouble but at this point short of catching them breaking actual rules I don’t suppose there’s much to be done. After all they’ll be off getting into all sorts of mischief once they leave here in a few months.”
“I suppose it’s a mercy Genevieve at least trusts me enough to come clean about some of it,” said Eleazar.
“Well have her inform me of any other information she comes across on her little escapades and I’ll look into Officer Singer. It might be nothing but better safe than sorry as you say.”
“Thank you, Aesop,” said Eleazar with a small smile and his friend nodded.
“Of course, Eleazar. Now, what EXACTLY did your daughter get herself mixed up in?” Eleazar sighed.
“First have you got some fire whiskey?”