Josie's Confession
Minnie preferred working with her dad in the winter. The Greenhouses were warmer than the rest of the world. It felt like an island where she could warm her mind.
"You know Valentine's day is coming up on Sunday?" Her dad asked with a big smile as he handed her a watering can. "I thought I should get your mum something special this year."
"More Moly? You certainly have enough lot of it for several Valentine's Day." Minnie asked craning her neck to see the flocks of herbs he'd been growing. She began pouring the water over the Lovage they were tending.
"No, that is a coincidence." He smirked, "They are just very vibrant this year. Maybe we need them."
"Maybe." Minnie chuckled. "What are you thinking for mum?"
"It is Moly related." He pulled a chain from his pocket. He handed it to Minnie, "I need your opinion. I'd ask Alice, but you know she's no good for secrets."
Minnie took off her gloves before taking the tiny chain. At the end of the chain was a golden watch in the shape of a Moly flower.
"It's bloody difficult to surprise your mum anymore. I only ever managed it once." He explained.
Minnie tilted her head, suddenly trying to imagine her father being a young boy trying to sneak a valentine to her mother.
"She mentioned she might need a new pocket watch in a couple years and I figured I'd get the jump on that." Said her dad.
"She will like it dad." Minnie smiled and handed the chain back.
"Good." He put the chain back into his pocket. "She could use some cheering up."
"I suppose so." Minnie answered putting on her gloves back on.
"Albert wrote your mother, said he saw you." Her dad explained.
"Yeah, he said he was hoping she'd cover for him to go to America next month." Minnie crossed her arms, "I told him she was too busy planning the Gala."
"That's my girl." Her dad said with a slight smile.
His smile disappeared as quickly as it arrived. "I'm honestly not sure why your mum keeps on planning it, we may not even be able to have a Gala. Not that it's the worst of the problems obviously, but it's certainly going to be a side effect."
"Of course." Minnie shrugged, she'd been looking forward to it, especially since she had a date. She had really wanted to show Cas her dress.
"So do I ask how are things with the boyfriend?" Her dad asked with a loud chuckle. He nodded to the entrance to the Greenhouses where Cas could be seen walking towards them. He was very bundled against the snow.
Minnie smirked, "We're going to go practice dueling for class."
"That sounds very romantic." Her dad joked with a croak of laughter.
"Well, we both want to be prepared. What if something happens?" Minnie asked as she began taking off her apron.
Her dad's expression dropped. "I always hoped you'd never have to think like that."
Ever since Uncle Flume's incident, her dad had been prone to a higher force of grief. Minnie had noticed, even when he tried to act like his normal jovial self.
"I'm sorry dad." Minnie insisted.
"That isn't your fault Minnie." Her dad said before wiping his forehead. "That's what I get for hoping the world would be better for you and your sister."
Minnie didn't know how to respond.
"Now take it from an expert dueler, as I supposedly am one," He said wrapping an arm around her shoulder, "if you are going to duel your boyfriend, stun him, nothing impresses a fellow more."
Minnie found herself snort with laughter.
Cas leaned into the Greenhouse, "Hey Minnie, Hello Professor."
His eyebrows knitted together, "What's so funny?"
Minnie ducked out from her dad's arm, "Nothing Cas, dad was giving me some dueling advice."
"Cool!" Cas' face lit up slightly.
"I suppose so." Her dad said softly.
"Oh before we go Professor, I'm supposed to write a profile on a teacher for the Gazette, mind if I interview you sometime?" Cas asked with a nervous tremble as he took Minnie's hand.
Her dad rolled his eyes before leaning back against a table, "Are you only asking me because you want to make a good impression?"
Cas shrugged, "I mean, a little, yes sir."
"Then yes, we can do an interview soon." Her dad smirked, "Now get out of here, and be careful you two. Loss of limb won't excuse you from OWLs."
"Of course dad." Minnie called back as she threw on her coat and scarf.
Minnie and Cas trudging hand in hand through the snow covered lawn.
"Minnie," Cas began, "I appreciate the idea of dueling, but honestly I'm afraid you might out duel me."
"Oh, you are being modest." Minnie chuckled, "I won't let you go easy on me."
"No, Minnie I'm serious." Cas said, his face becoming pasty, "I don't exactly have the highest of grades in Defense Against The Dark Arts. I've never managed even disarming."
"We can work on it." Minnie promised.
Whether they would work on it or not, was increasingly undetermined as an owl swooped down.
The tawny owl dropped a letter with unfamiliar handwriting. It was addressed to them both.
Cas held the letter up, "Who would be writing us both?"
Minnie had a small inclination who could be writing them. She opened the letter with a vigor, pulling the envelope from Cas.
To Mr. Cassius Warrington and Miss Minerva Longbottom,
I was more than honored to receive any kind of correspondence from anyone who is interested in my work. I do not count myself as one of the more favored writers, so your incredibly kind compliments are very welcome.
Mr. Blythe vigorously explained that he wished we could meet in person. He expressed the idea that he wanted me to impart some kind of wisdom upon you.
I would be honored to meet the both of you. I will be in Hogsmead on February 13th, as I am continuing my own investigation into these disappearances. If it is possible by that point, I will be at the Three Broomsticks at 12pm. You will be more than welcome to meet me there. I have more than a few theories, and honestly I'd love a perspective from the inside.
Your humble servant,
-Lark Crawford
Minnie re-read the letter several times. She could feel her nose becoming chapped in the cold air as they stood frozen. The letter was flapping in the cold wind.
"Damn, we can't meet him." Cas shook his head finally speaking, "The thirteenth is barely days away, the school is still on lockdown. No one in their right mind would let us out of the school."
"Probably not." Minnie said tilting her head. "Especially if we told them what it was for."
"Maybe, we could sneak out?" Cas suggested raising an eyebrow at her.
"We can't do that." Minnie gasped.
"How different is it really from when we snuck down to the kitchens?" Cas asked.
"Very different." Minnie reminded, "This is leaving the castle. How would we even manage something like that? There are no secret passageways anymore."
"There could be one." Cas said as they reached the castle.
"What do you mean?"
"Your dad used to sneak out through the Room of Requirement." Cas reminded her making her brain begin to spin.
"Yeah, but that was complicated." Minnie explained, "My dad told me it wasn't as easy as him just wanting to leave, he had to really need something."
"We need this case solved." Cas tried begging, "Wouldn't that count?"
"We don't technically need to see Crawford." Minnie pondered, "Do we?"
"Maybe." Cas shrugged, "We could give it a try."
"I suppose." Minnie's chest felt heavy. "I do want Josie to have her dad back."
"And Crawford could maybe put us in the right direction." Cas surmised. "Maybe we do need to see him to solve the case."
"There is a problem," Minnie said after thinking a bit, scanning her brain for everything she knew about it, "The Room of Requirement needs someone to stay behind, or else it closes up."
"We could ask Josie." Cas shrugged, "She seems pretty good at secrets and she owes you a favor."
"Not to mention she needs her dad back. It could make the room work better." Minnie answered before letting her shoulders rest. "I'll ask her."
That night in her dormitory when their roommates were gone, Minnie spoke with Josie. She told her almost everything about what they were doing and why.
"I mean it's kind and all that you are looking to help my dad, but how is seeing some author going to help?" Josie asked looking up from the broomstick she was polishing.
Minnie chose her words carefully, "He's the greatest investigative journalist of our time! He said he's studying the case, maybe he can point us in the right direction, or vice versa."
Josie said while she continued polishing her broomstick, "When do you need to meet him?"
"Saturday at noon."
"I'll cancel Quidditch practice. It's too cold to fly anyway." Josie shrugged, "And I'll try to help."
"Thanks Josie." Minnie stood to leave, she planned to tell Cas that Josie was in. It had been a very easy conversation.
"Hey Min." Josie stopped her, "I'm sorry?"
Minnie turned to look at Josie, "I mean if you want to apologize it should be to Lissy."
"I know, and I will, it's just-" Josie's eyes became glazed again, "I need my friend right now."
"I never stopped being your friend." Minnie insisted.
"I've been wrong, about a lot lately." said Josie.
Minnie sat back down, "About what?"
Josie breathed a deep sigh before revealing, "That night at Uncle Harry's, well I wanted to spite Alice and you is all, and everyone knows she's got it pretty heavy for Lorc."
Minnie felt herself shift closer to Josie. The confusion washed over her.
"So that night, we um, we snogged." Josie said with a downtrodden expression.
Minnie felt her mouth become agape. Lorcan had been pretty loyal to Nell, how could he snog Josie?
"I know. It was a mistake." Josie slammed her hand against her head, "We both swore never to speak of it again."
Minnie put her hand on Josie's.
"But then everything happened with dad, and I, I couldn't seem to stop myself." Josie said with a garish green flush across her face. "We've been meeting up, a lot, and well he's still with Nell, but he wants to be with me. I told him I wasn't sure."
"Josie, that's..."
"Horrible I know!" Josie began to wail. "I'm a horrible person. I've been horrible to your bloody sister, I've been horrible now to Nell. I have been a rotten friend to you and Cody and Lysander. Oh Lysander will murder me if he finds out. Oh Minnie, what do I do? I don't know what's wrong with me."
Minnie didn't have an answer, "Well..."
"I suppose it's because of my grades, then of course dad." Josie shook her head as she continued her wails, "I'm sure to fail my OWLs."
"Josie-" Minnie tried to interject.
"Dad only got three OWLs himself, and he made it alright, but he had a plan, I don't have a plan if I don't do Quidditch." Josie continued.
"Well, umm..." Minnie grasped wanting to suggest she study more.
Josie put her head onto Minnie's shoulder, "I suppose I should study more. Maybe, when dad comes back he will be proud of my progress."
Minnie just pat Josie's shoulder.
"Things start to make better sense when you are around." Josie wiped her nose as she sat up, "I suppose that's what I've been missing. I'm sorry Minnie, I'll help you on Saturday."
Minnie sat with her friend a bit more, understanding this may have been what her friend needed most, an ear.
She did now hold information she wasn't quite sure what to do with. If Lorcan did leave Nell for Josie, would Lysander feel betrayed? If it were true, Minnie should be the one to tell Alice, but Alice could tell the whole school.
Minnie chose to push the information from her mind, citing that Saturday was a more important focus.
Saturday arrived and Minnie dressed in a warm wool dress she supposed looked smart to meet the author who could be the answer to their problems. She and Cas met Josie outside the room of requirement at a quarter passed eleven.
It was easy to get inside.
Josie had been managing it by needing a place to seek respite, so she had become old hat at it.
Once inside the three students wondered again if it would be a difficult thing to manage needing to leave. They had all wondered if it would even work.
It wasn't difficult as the passageway opened, no one was sure who had managed it, but it opened a passageway.
Cas and Minnie followed the passageway out to behind an old portrait. Cas helped Minnie down before they made their way down the stairs to the Hogshead.
"Not again." The old barkeeper, Aberforth Dumbledore said with shock grazing his face upon noticing them. "You're Longbottom and Fyre's kid right?"
Minnie nodded.
"Does your parents know you used that old passageway?"
Minnie nodded before stuttering, "Yes, it's for a Gazette article."
"Oh?" Aberforth continued wiping his mug.
"It's about her dad." Cas said with a shrug. "I'm writing it, she's helping me."
"Sure." Aberforth leaned forward, his beard sliding across the bar top. "Well I'll tell you all you need to know about that, stuff that numpty at the Prophet left out. You know they used to meet up here during the war. They were teenagers, and I thought may as well leave em alone. You know we were all possibly going to die, may as well let them both enjoy some time together."
Minnie's stomach began to turn and flip. Minnie knew a lot of this, but she was somewhat scared of first hand accounts.
"You both probably know how kids are. Normally you leave them alone and they just, you know go at it." Aberforth looked wistfully off out a window. "And those two were quite mad for each other. First night they met up with each other here, they couldn't keep their hands off of each other."
Cas' face had turned green.
"You know, I found out later that all they ever did was talk. Oh, and sleep. That mum of yours would sleep for hours." Aberforth continued to his wipe of the same mug, "But I was sure, you know after the war that they'd at least end up together. Your dad would come here and wait for dates with her. She'd send a regretful letter and he'd drink till he'd get completely pissed o'course. Then he'd be knackered out on the bar and I'd have to handle it. Ruddy stuff, love's a bitch I guess."
Aberforth stopped and looked to them both, "Shouldn't you be writing this down?"
"Uh." Minnie exclaimed before getting her notepad, she wasn't sure she wanted to hear this.
"Then there was the night she finally showed. Only took her six damn years of course." Aberforth sighed, "They left that night only to come back twenty minutes later, seems he'd been locked out of the castle and he needed a place to stay, and well, looked like they were really making the best of it. Didn't seem to bother them that I was even in the room, so I just handed them a key to a room."
"That wasn't in the book." Minnie could taste the vomit in her mouth.
"Of course not, didn't you hear me say I know more than that numpty at the Prophet? Not to mention I doubt your mum was allowing that kinda intimate information in her book." Said Aberforth.
"Oh, I wasn't aware."
"I'm sure you are aware students aren't supposed to leave the castle." Aberforth cackled.
Minnie shot a look at Cas. She was beginning to realize that Aberforth had been partially pulling her chain. They were obviously caught.
"You two got a better reason?" Aberforth said raising an eyebrow.
Minnie ran her mind through every reason she could. Would seeing this author be a good enough reason?
"I just wanted to take her on a proper date sir." Cas answered with a slump of his shoulders. "I haven't been able to. The castle is fine, but I wouldn't be a proper boyfriend if I didn't take her somewhere nice at least once. I know the Gala is coming up, but we aren't even sure it's really happening with everything going on?"
Aberforth chuckled a little before quipping, "You are dating her?"
Minnie and Cas both nodded.
"You are a brave bloke." Aberforth chuckled and put the mug down he'd been cleaning. "And hopefully a patient one."
Cas smirked taking Minnie's hand, "Mostly I'm just lucky sir."
"I'll give you both two hours, just the Three Broomsticks and back you hear?" Aberforth said in a warning tone, "Don't go telling your parents I let you do this either, I'd lose my best patrons an I only stock White Rat Whiskey for them."
Minnie nodded, "Yes sir."
"You both are lucky I'm a romantic." Aberforth shrugged before waving his hand.
They were mostly lucky the Three Broomsticks was their destination. Aberforth seemed to watch them through the window.
They tracked through the somewhat boarded up town of Hogsmead. So many stores were closed and people seemed to pass under a deep shroud of grief. The wind was cold and few houses held light.
Minnie barely recognized the home she'd always known and loved.
They arrived at the Three Broomsticks, which held some of the only warmth in town now.
Minnie looked around, wondering what Lark Crawford even looked like.
A man stood from a table making Minnie's heart begin to race. A shrill shock of terror flooded her very being. He waved at them to come and join him.
It was the man, the dark one her mother had been scared of. His dark hair and eyes were unmistakable. He was wearing a long purple trimmed coat. His hair was slicked back and his eyes lingered over a very distinguished nose.
Lark Crawford was the man her mother was terrified of.
Minnie wanted to warn Cas, they should leave, but Mr. Crawford interrupted her distress.
"You two must be Mr. Cassius Warrington and Miss Minerva Longbottom." The man ascertained standing from his chair.
He had a distinctly American accent, it was more gruff than her grandfather's. Her Grandpa Fyre spoke in a purely American dialect with a thick emphasis on his O's and an odd switch of D's and Ts. Uncle Jack's and her mother's accent were both more neutral, sometimes drifting between vernaculars and with a slightly more perfect bought of pronunciation.
Crawford's accent sounded more like the cowboys in the movies. A twang sat on the end of his words and it seemed like he was chewing on something.
Cas exclaimed not noticing Minnie's sudden trepidation, "Yes sir, that's us."
"Lark Crawford." The man introduced himself as he shook both Minnie and Cas' hands.
His hand was firm, but obviously cold from the snow.
"An honor sir." Cas said with a gaping smile upon his face.
They sat down at a table and Minnie smoothed her dress. Every fiber in her being screamed for her to leave, but she couldn't make a scene.
"The honor is mine. It isn't every day the youth is so interested in my investigative journalism." Mr. Crawford looked between them proudly. "Then again, I should have known when Mr. Blythe mentioned it was Samantha Fyre's daughter that of course she'd have some sort of interest in the written language. Been a good brick since I've seen your mom."
Minnie wasn't sure how to respond, she was terrified of this man now. Her mother didn't react to nothing. She was wary to even discuss her.
She formed words as best she could, "I'm more interested in the investigation part than the journalism part."
"Really?"
"We're actually trying to solve the mystery. Of where everyone has been going." Cas said with urgency.
"I assumed." Mr. Crawford laughed heartily.
"We've gathered a lot of evidence and we have a few theories. We just wanted to see if you thought we were in the right direction and get your opinion."
Mr. Crawford pulled out his notepad, "I too have been following the case of course. Could make for a fine entry for an upcoming publication."
"You aren't going to quote us right?" Minnie asked. Her mother had warned her that when a journalist was getting out their notepad they could be taking down your words.
"Fiddlesticks, of course not. I was," He laughed heartily throwing his head back, "I was getting out my notes on the case, so we could compare."
"I apologize."
"No need." Mr. Crawford continued his laugh, "Must've learned that from your mom. Journalists are always terrified of other journalists, worried we will discover each other's secrets."
Minnie normally enjoyed comparisons to her mother, but in this moment, it sent goosebumps down her spine. She didn't like it at all.
They began talking about the case and comparing how they'd all come to the conclusion the attacks were motivated by Hogwarts. They had a butterbeer and Minnie found she couldn't decide whether she liked Crawford or not. He was more than kind and very open with his findings.
However, something about him made her wary. Every other sentence he seemed to find a way to compare her to her mother. It was like he was digging for any word of her, any substance that her mother still existed.
Minnie also wondered why he wasn't like other adults. He never insisted they were too young to discuss these sorts of things.
"So do you both really believe this business that it's supposedly Dementors behind the attack?" Crawford asked looking through his notebook.
"It only makes sense," Cas said with a wide popping expression, "What else can suck a soul or create such a feeling of dread?"
"That's what I considered at first as well, I've done a great deal of research on Dementors, but why is it only one victim had that happen?" Crawford asked before sipping his herbal smelling tea. "I personally believe that Flume fellow was targeted for more than a passageway."
"Uncle Flume didn't have any enemies." Minnie said with a deep insistence.
"I don't mean that he did...Uncle?" Crawford stopped before reaching out a hand to her's. "I am sorry for your loss. Your father's side I assume?"
Minnie nodded, "Yes, he was my grandmother's brother."
"Oh if I had only known," Crawford paused with his eyes slimming, "Well I wouldn't have spoken so freely. I am sorry for your loss."
Minnie nodded hastily in response, wanting her hand back, "It has become a motivation for me."
"I understand." Crawford removed his hand from her's. "But why have we never found any other victims?"
Minnie and Cas exchanged looks.
"Unfortunately I think your Uncle may have been left as a red herring of a particular type." Crawford ran his hand through his slightly graying black hair. "To make us believe it is Dementors."
"Well, what else could it be?" Cas asked leaning forward.
"Have you ever heard of a Lethifold?" Crawford asked in a whisper. He pulled a book from his bag and presented a picture of a cloaked being that had no body. Minnie's stomach turned as she looked at the picture, it made her nervous. Just the dimensions of the drawing and the slender black lightning that fell from beneath it sent shivers down her spine.
"They are related to Dementors, but they aren't Dementors. You should look them up. They even bring a similar sense of dread and feed off of negative memories."
Minnie and Cas both took notes to look up Lethifolds.
"We think someone would be behind the attacks along with the creatures." Cas revealed.
"I don't think so." Crawford shook his head, "Lethifolds are quite cunning and mistrusting, they don't work with people."
"Then why would they want into the castle?" Minnie asked.
They only want one thing." Crawford laughed, "Young souls to feed off of, and where do you think they keep a lot of young souls?"
"Hogwarts." Cas said. "It's a good thing they shut it all down, no one can get in or out now."
"Yes, how good of the castle to take such good measures. How were you able to get out of the castle?" Mr. Crawford asked with a raised eyebrow.
"That's our business I think." Minnie answered before lightly kicking Cas in the shin.
Cas jumped but nodded at her.
"Another thing you must've learned from your mom, she's always held a small amount of secrecy about her." Crawford smarted.
"I'm not my mother." Minnie answered, rather tired that he had compared her to her mother more than once.
"You are most certainly not." He smirked a little, his dark eyes taking her in.
They finished their conversation with just as many questions as answers. More questions about Crawford than even the case itself. Something wasn't sitting right. She kept her thoughts to herself incase it was biased with her mother's previous reaction.
Minnie and Cas made their way back to the castle with the intention of visiting the library to research Lethifolds. They would meet the next day to discuss their findings and spend Valentine's Day together.
As they, and Josie left the Room of Requirement, they passed Lulu who was on her way to the place they had just come from. Perhaps, Minnie wondered, that was how Lulu still managed to get supplies, the room would open her to somewhere she needed to go for supplies.
Minnie grabbed a few books before retreating to her dormitory to study and prepare. Crawford's dark eyes haunted her mind as she drifted into a deep lulled sleep. She had expected him to be different, but he had helped them, hadn't he?