Chapter 12
When Ginny entered their shared room that evening, it was to find Hermione cross-legged on her bed, half-buried in books. She was flipping through a volume, face creased in a frown.
“Hey.” When Hermione didn’t look up, Ginny brought her hands together in a sharp clap. “Hey! Hermione!”
Hermione startled and jerked up. “What?”
“Mum says dinner’s almost ready.” Ginny wandered up, peering at the books. There was The Rise and Fall of the Dark Lord again, along with Unexplained Events of Magical Britain and similar titles. “Are you doing a summer project on the Potter Mystery or something?” she asked, slightly amused.
“No.” Hermione pushed her hair back, flipping to another page. “I’m trying to see if I can’t find that illustration Harry Powell reminded me of. I can’t remember if it’s here or in a library book.”
“Isn’t that a bit invasive for poor Harry?” Ginny teased. “You think he looks like a book illustration and you go ransacking your library for his doppelganger!”
“It’s just bothering me, that’s all. He definitely reminds me of someone from a book.” Hermione slammed her book closed, letting out a sigh of exasperation. “I wish I remembered images better! If it had been written down, I definitely would have remembered.”
“Give it up, Hermione. Like Ron said, he’s just this local Muggle kid.” Even as she spoke, Ginny felt heat climb into her cheeks.
Hermione noticed. She gave Ginny a sidelong smirk. “Maybe a bit more than that?”
“It’s early days yet,” said Ginny lightly. “We’ll see how it goes.” She stared out the window at the sunset blazing on the ocean, fiddling with the hem of her shorts. Hermione’s talk of elusive memories had reminded her of the end of last year.
“What’s the matter?” Hermione stood to join her. “Are you sad your parents will be leaving tomorrow?”
“No. Well, maybe a little,” Ginny admitted. “But they’ll be back later in the summer, they say, and I can go home to see them if I really want to.”
“That’s a nice thing about magical travel, I suppose,” Hermione said. “You don’t have to worry about scheduling. But seriously, Ginny, what’s wrong?”
“Just…something I overheard. After Slughorn’s end-of-year party.” Quickly, Ginny outlined the odd conversation she’d overheard through the closed door.
Hermione, predictably, frowned in disapproval. “You were eavesdropping on the Headmaster?”
“I didn’t mean to!” Ginny said. “It—just sort of happened. But what do you think it all meant?”
“I think it was Dumbledore’s business, not ours.” But Hermione looked thoughtful now—even a little intrigued. “Did you say the other man’s name was Severus?”
“Yes. I think so, anyway.”
“Severus…” Hermione looked more pensive than ever. “Severus…I’m sure I’ve read that name somewhere before.”
“First Harry, now this Severus!” grinned Ginny. “Do you think everyone is in your books?”
“Of course not,” said Hermione absently, too deep in thought to notice the teasing humor in Ginny’s voice. “And this Severus had ‘contained the curse’? What curse…?” Alarm flickered in her eyes. “Ginny, you don’t think the Headmaster’s been affected by a curse, do you?”
Ginny blinked. Her initial reaction to this idea was utter disbelief. Albus Dumbledore always seemed so invulnerable, omniscient even: the idea of him succumbing to a curse was preposterous. But now that Hermione had said it, it seemed obvious. “Well, I don’t see what else it could be,” she said in a low voice.
Hermione looked more alarmed than ever. “We should tell your parents!”
“What can they do about it? If Dumbledore wants help, he’ll get it. And it really sounded like he didn’t want anyone else to know. I don’t think we should say anything, Hermione. Like you said, it’s the Headmaster’s business.”
Hermione looked unhappy, but she nodded reluctantly. “Yes, I suppose so.” She lapsed back into a pensive pause. “It sounds like this ring was cursed…and they were after all these other objects too. A diary, a cup, a locket…” Hermione’s eyes widened. “You don’t think it was your diary they were talking about?”
“The cursed diary Dumbledore confiscated?” Ginny considered this. “I guess it could’ve been…But that seems like an awfully big coincidence.”
“Yes, it does.” But Hermione did not sound convinced. She slipped into another thoughtful pause. “Random cursed objects…This Severus person. Dumbledore’s curse. It’s all connected somehow. Did Severus say who this ward of his was? His name or anything?”
“No.” Ginny shook her head. “All I know is that he’s a boy.” She hesitated. “But Dumbledore did say something weird. Even weirder than all that ‘you promised me the boy was mine’ stuff. He said something like, ‘Did you adopt the boy out of love or vengeance?’”
“Love or vengeance.” Hermione leaned against the window, staring at the brilliant sea. “And a vow Dumbledore made? He promised Severus this boy in exchange for—obedience? His help in hunting down these objects…”
“I thought this was none of our business.” Ginny nudged Hermione teasingly.
Hermione looked a little shamefaced. “Well, I guess not. The Headmaster must know what he’s doing.” She stretched, raising her arms above her head. “Well, one thing’s for sure,” she added, as though she just couldn’t help it, “this Severus person must be quite the potion-maker. Using a potion to contain a curse in someone’s body is really, really advanced magic.”
“Well, maybe this Severus bloke will come teach a potions class at Hogwarts sometime,” said Ginny, though privately she didn’t think it seemed likely. There was no mistaking the animosity in Severus’s voice when he spoke to Dumbledore. “They did say the next cursed object was at Hogwarts somewhere.”
“Well, I hope they were wrong about that!” Hermione was shaking off her pensiveness completely now, pushing back her hair and straightening her shoulders. “We don’t need Dark objects at school, thank you very much. Anyone could get at them there.”
Ginny shivered, thinking of someone like, say, Draco Malfoy, getting hold of a cursed Dark object. Whatever it was. “Well, if it is at Hogwarts, let’s hope it’s well hidden. And that Dumbledore finds it soon. Come on, let’s go get dinner.”
The bells tinkled when Severus opened the door to Shadowed Planet Comics Store. The shop had barely opened and so was deserted, aside from Miguel, stacking up boxes on the shelves. He looked up, and grinned when he saw who it was. “Hi, Severus!”
“Miguel.” Severus stepped more fully into the shop. Felicita came gamboling up, to rub herself against his leg, purring. Severus sighed and bent over to scratch her ears. “Yes, hello, Felicita.”
“You’ve always been her special novio, Severus,” Miguel teased. “Come on, let’s go in the back.”
Severus followed Miguel into the backroom of the store, a stuffy space full of cardboard boxes, loose games packages still wrapped in plastic, and cardboard cutouts of pop culture icons and characters leaning against the walls. Even as he entered, a pain stung Severus’s left arm, and he clapped his right hand over it, wincing.
Miguel looked over at him, frowning. “Something the matter, Severus?”
“Nothing.” Severus had never told Miguel about the darker aspects of his past, and he hoped never to have to—a hope that was diminishing as the mark on his arm grew darker and bolder by the day. “I didn’t sleep well last night.”
“I can see that.” Miguel scrutinized Severus’s haggard face, with his red-rimmed eyes. “Lying awake worrying about Harry, are you?”
“It was nothing to do with him,” Severus said untruthfully.
In truth, Severus had stayed awake until midnight last night, when he had Apparated to a particular county park further inland, deserted by Muggles at that time of night. There he had been met by Albus Dumbledore, who had Apparated there ahead of him. Dumbledore had been sitting on a bench, breathing a little heavily and hunched over his right hand, held against his chest.
“Is it paining you?” Severus asked with clinical interest. “That potion should be helping.”
“Oh, it is, Severus, it is,” said Dumbledore serenely. “But I find long-distance Apparition is a little more challenging than it used to be.” He stood, rummaging in his robes. “However, fear not. I have the amulets I promised.” He held out the paper-wrapped package.
Severus took the package without thanks. He didn’t see any need for gratitude when it was Dumbledore’s fault he and Harry were in this mess to start with. “They will protect Harry?”
“From most low- to moderate-power hexes and curses. There’s also one for charm and trustworthiness. It’ll make Harry seem more likable to the Weasleys. Though, from what I’ve heard, young Harry has little need of that.” Dumbledore smiled. “How is he managing, Severus?”
“Fine, so far,” Severus said reluctantly. He really did not like to discuss Harry with Dumbledore. “He’s met with the Weasley girl twice now: once at the comics store where he works, and once when he was out surfing with his friends. He met Ronald Weasley and his girlfriend Hermione Granger there too. He says they have already mentioned inviting them into the rental.”
“Excellent!” Dumbledore brought his hands together in a brisk, delighted clap. “Very good progress, I should think.” He paused. “And…the other matter?”
Severus’s right hand closed on his left elbow. “It’s clearer all the time.”
Dumbledore nodded, unsurprised. “I thought as much. If Voldemort hasn’t rebodied himself by now, he soon will. The sooner we get all the Horcruxes, Severus, the better.”
Now, in the comics story backroom, Severus pushed the memory aside. “I wanted to tell you something, Miguel. And ask a favor.”
“What kind of favor?” Miguel crossed his arms. “I do a lot for you as it is, Severus.”
Severus wondered if Miguel made a conscious point of repeating his real name, just to remind Severus that he knew his secret. “Nothing like that,” he said. “I don’t need any new clients right now, and it’s not time for the monthly potion shipment yet. I just thought you should know about the wizards in town.”
“Wizards?” Miguel’s gaze sharpened. At his feet, Felicita flattened her ears, going tense. “Here in San Benito?”
“Yes. They’re a British family called the Weasleys. They’re renting the beach house up by North Beach, the one the kids call the Ghost Rental. They’re here for the entire summer, apparently.”
“Well!” Miguel stood back, digesting this news. “This is certainly interesting.” He eyed Severus. “What are you going to do, Severus? I know you’re not fond of the company of your own kind.”
“Ordinarily I’d be asking you to watch the house while I take Harry on an extended trip,” said Severus. “But I’m afraid Harry’s already befriended them. You no doubt saw him with the Weasley girl here in the shop.”
Miguel sniggered. “Oh, I saw him with that redhaired tourist, all right! She was a witch?” At Severus’s nod, Miguel eyed him thoughtfully. “Yes, I can see why you don’t really want to drag Harry away right now. Lovelorn teenagers are bad enough without adding magic to the mix!”
“Quite so,” said Severus, restraining both his irritation and his sudden alarm. The picture Miguel’s words conjured up was not a comfortable one. Harry falling love with the Weasley girl…? “So—can you keep an eye on him? When he’s with the Weasley girl or any of her family?”
“Of course,” said Miguel at once. “Maya’s made friends with them too, you know—not that she has any idea of what they really are. She says they’re nice. But I’ll be watching them both. I’ll have Felicita keep an eye on them too.” He hesitated. “But Severus, you know I can’t do anything against magic.”
“I don’t think the Weasleys will try anything like that. They’re not the type. But if you see anything concerning, let me know. You have my number.”
Miguel nodded. “I will.” He paused again. “Severus…do you think they know about Harry…?”
“No, they don’t. Harry knows they’re wizards, but I’ve warned him not to do anything to let them know about him. He’s well versed in camouflage. But that leads me to my other request,” said Severus. “You and Mike are involved with the local theater group, aren’t you?”
“Yeah,” said Miguel, blinking at this sudden volte-face. “Shadowed Planet is one of this year’s sponsors for Shakespeare in the Park, you know. Why?”
“I wonder if you can get hold of some stage makeup for me.”
“Makeup, Severus? You?” A somewhat evil grin crept across Miguel’s face. “Well, Severus, if you’re interested in joining the local drag scene—”
“No, Miguel,” said Severus, rolling his eyes. “It’s not for me. I need makeup that will disguise a scar. Or change a scar’s shape. Harry says Ginny Weasley saw his curse scar.”
“Ah.” Miguel looked knowing. “Curse scars are very distinctive, aren’t they?”
“And it’s extremely inconvenient that Harry’s is right in the middle of his forehead,” grumbled Severus. Why couldn’t the Dark Lord have aimed his wand at another part of Harry’s body? The stomach or the chest would have been much easier to hide. Or even better, the back of the shoulder, like Albus Dumbledore’s own lightning-shaped curse scar. “So—do you have anything?”
“I’ll see what I can do. Better make it waterproof makeup, too, considering how much time that kid spends swimming.”
“Thank you, Miguel,” Severus said with real gratitude.
“Anything for Harry.” Miguel waved it aside. “I like that kid a lot. And I’m glad you’re not freaking out over these wizarding tourists, Severus.”
If only Miguel knew. “Just keep an eye on them. And on Harry. And I’ll bring those potions later this month.”
Miguel grinned. “Excellent.” As Severus’s middlemen in the potions business, Mike and Miguel got a respectable cut out of every business deal. “Anything else?”
Severus shifted. “Actually, I’d like to buy something for Harry.” He owed Harry something for the work he was doing, Severus thought. Not to mention Severus’s intemperate outburst the other night. He felt rather guilty about that.
“Now you’re talking!” Miguel’s grin turned wider and more evil than ever. “Let me show you our latest Sandman collectibles!”
“Good God,” Severus muttered as he followed Miguel out of the backroom. “Will Muggles never learn?”
Miguel tossed him an unusually hard look over his shoulder. “I might say the same thing about wizards. Severus.”
Severus could hardly argue with that.