ааааааааJames glanced toward the door. Albus was leaving without so much as a look back. "What's Scorpius have to do with anything?" he asked.
аааааааа"Well," Tabitha replied, arching her eyebrows, "Scorpius has either broken from the tradition of his father, choosing courage and valor over ambition, thus proving his worth as a Gryffindor. Or the Slytherins have changed, no longer to be the house of greed and corruption, as was the case in the day of Scorpius' father. Either wayЕ," she smiled, waiting for James to give her his full attention, "it is proof that the Sorting Hat knows its business. Your brother is in Slytherin because that, James, is where he belongs. I truly hope you will not feel the continued need to interfere with that."
аааааааа"He's my brother," James replied. "I'll interfere wherever I see fit."
аааааааа"I'm not threatening you, James," Tabitha said, the smile going out of her voice, "I'm doing you the favor of warning you. Your brother is special. It may well be that we Slytherins are the only house that could recognize that. Albus has a destiny. I tell you this as a friend: if anyone attempts to stand in the way of that destiny, even you, they do so at their own risk."
ааааааааJames studied Tabitha's face. She seemed remarkably sincere, and yet it was so hard to trust anything she said. "What do you think you know about Al's destiny?"
ааааааааTabitha smiled a little again. "That's for him to tell if he chooses. But I expect he hardly realizes it himself yet. My advice, James: watch and wait. And enjoy your brother's success. It's what he would do for you."
ааааааааWith that, Tabitha turned, her robes sweeping delicately, and left the Great Hall.
7.AMSERACERTH
After dinner, James was accompanied by Ralph and Rose to the Gryffindor common room. On theаway, he told them about his conversation with Tabitha and her unsettling proclamation of Albus'аpotential, but neither of them seemed particularly impressed.
аааааааа"That's the way she always talks," Ralph said dismissively. "Even some of the Slytherins tend to view her as a bit of a drama queen."
аааааааа"You mean anyone other than you and Trenton?" James asked, arching an eyebrow.
аааааааа"They do seem to sincerely like Albus," Rose commented, stepping through the portrait hole. "Maybe it's all true. Maybe Albus is the boy of destiny. Apparently, that kind of thing runs in the family, just like dark hair and Quidditch skills."
аааааааа"It's not funny," James said, but he couldn't help smiling a little.
аааааааа"You should just come with me down to the Slytherin common room one of these nights," Ralph suggested. "See for yourself how Albus gets along with everybody. Honestly, he does seem to fit in pretty well. It'll put your mind at ease."
ааааааааThe three made their way across the crowded common room, joining Noah, Damien, and Sabrina on a pair of couches in a dark corner.
аааааааа"We were just talking about you, James," Noah proclaimed, patting the couch cushion next to him. James flung himself onto the couch, happy to be among his friends.
аааааааа"We've got an idea," Sabrina said wisely, tapping the side of her nose.
аааааааа"Does it have anything to do with the Heracles window again?" Ralph asked, grinning. "That was a big hit even with the Slytherins. Filch still hasn't gotten it entirely back to rights. Heracles' face keeps reverting to Malfoy's overnight."
аааааааа"It's all in the wrist," Damien said proudly, flexing his hand.
аааааааа"No, this is even better," Noah replied, leaning forward on the couch and lowering his voice. "It's this Debellows disaster that's got everybody in a lather. Seems that people don't so much mind a little physical training; I mean the guy does have a point that battling the Dark Artsdoes sometimes require a little actual fighting. But this whole no-spells thing for the younger years is just over the top. And so it got us thinkingЕ"
аааааааа"This has happened before!" Sabrina said, smacking James on the shoulder.
ааааааааJames glanced around at the Gremlins. "I'm missing something," he admitted.
аааааааа"Back in your dad's day," Damien replied, rolling his eyes. "The reign of Umbridge the Terrible.Don't tell me we know more about your dad's school exploits than you do."
аааааааа"It wouldn't surprise me," James said, smiling crookedly. "It seems I haven't read any of the right books."
ааааааааRose made an annoyed noise. "Umbridge was the D.A.D.A. teacher," she explained. "She refused to teach them any usable defensive techniques because she was a Ministry tool, back when the Ministry was trying to squash any and all rumors about the return of 'He Who Must Not be Named'."She pronounced the euphemism with obvious sarcasm.
аааааааа"I remember," James finally said, nodding. "But that's not what Debellows is about."
ааааааааSabrina cut James off. "It amounts to the same thing. So your plan is to solve it the same way."
аааааааа"Oh no," James said, shaking his head. "No way. I'm not starting up another Dumbledore's Army. I just got done telling Cameron Creevey the other night that I'm not my father. I don't want people thinking I'm trying to relive all of his old adventures."
аааааааа"Not to fear," Noah said, throwing his arm around James' shoulders. "No one will be thinking that. For one thing, we can't use that name."
аааааааа"Agreed," Damien replied. "Too old-school. Maybe 'Merlin's Army'?"
ааааааааSabrina shook her head. "Too copycat. How about just the 'Real D.A.D.A.'?"
аааааааа"Too long and too commercial," Damien replied.
аааааааа"Look," Noah interrupted, "the name doesn't matter. The point is, you lot need to know this stuff. If you don't get it until you're as old and excellent as we are, it'll be too little, too late. You need to take matters into your own hands."
аааааааа"But I can't teach any of it!" James exclaimed. "I barely know any of it myself!"
аааааааа"Then I guess you need to find someone to teach it to you," Noah answered, shrugging.
аааааааа"So why don't you three do it?" James shot back.
аааааааа"Can't happen," Damien said matter-of-factly. "As great and inspiring as we may seem, we aren't teachers. You ever hear of muscle memory? It means that my hand knows how to cast an Expelliarmus spell, but my brain doesn't keep track of it anymore. It'd be like trying to explain how to walk. It's just second nature by now. No, you need a natural teacher; someone like your dad, back with the original Dumbledore's Army."
ааааааааJames turned to Ralph and Rose. "Shouldn't you two be speaking up, telling me what a ridiculous and irresponsible idea this is?"
аааааааа"Actually," Rose said thoughtfully, "I think it makes a good bit of sense. I mean, it's true that we really aren't learning anything useful in Debellows' class. Especially the girls."
аааааааа"And honestly," Ralph added, "I need all the help I can get with defensive magic. That's one area I've never really gotten a handle on."
аааааааа"I'll say," James grudgingly agreed. "But still, this could get us into a load of trouble!"
аааааааа"I don't see why," Rose reasoned. "There are lots of extracurricular classes and clubs. It's not like in our parents' day when Umbridge forbade anyone from practicing defensive spells. It could be a completely sanctioned school club. All we'd have to do is get the Headmaster's permission. You could ask, James. Merlin owes you one, after all."
ааааааааJames glanced at Rose. She shrugged.
аааааааа"This leaves just one problem," Ralph commented. "Who will we get to teach?"
аааааааа"You'd need somebody with a good, basic grasp of the defensive arts," Sabrina said. "Someone who's a natural leader and teacher, with some experience in actual battle."
ааааааааAn idea occurred to James. His eyes widened, and then he slumped slowly in his seat.
аааааааа"What?" Rose asked, frowning.
аааааааа"I think I just thought of the perfect teacher," James replied dolefully.
ааааааааRalph said, "So why is that a problem?"
аааааааа"Because," James grinned crookedly, "I don't think he'll ever agree to do it."
ааааааааRose narrowed her eyes. After a moment, she smiled knowingly.
аааааааа"Who?" Noah asked.
аааааааа"Can't tell," James answered. "But if we can talk him into it, I'll let you know."
ааааааааThe Gremlins seemed a bit annoyed at James' secrecy but were generally content that their idea had been adopted. After a while, the group broke up, leaving only James, Ralph, and Rose in the dark corner.
аааааааа"Do you think Cedric would ever do it?" Rose asked earnestly, keeping her voice low.
аааааааа"Oh!" Ralph exclaimed, smacking his forehead. "I knew I should've known who you two were talking about."
аааааааа"All we can do is ask him," James answered. "People say he had natural leadership skills. He was good enough to get into the Triwizard Tournament, and he made it through all the challenges, so he has plenty of experience."
аааааааа"And from his perspective, it's all still fresh," Rose agreed.
ааааааааRalph asked, "But where can we find him? Last year, he just seemed to show up when he wanted to. We still don't really know where he hangs out."
ааааааааJames looked hard at Ralph, thinking. "Actually, I might have an idea about that."
аааааааа"We should ask the Headmaster first," Rose said. "That way, we don't bother Cedric with it unless it's for sure. Let's all go together; tomorrow, after lunch. That'll give us a chance to figure out the best way to present the idea."
ааааааааJames nodded. "Sounds all right, I suppose."
аааааааа"You don't think it's a good idea?" Rose asked, putting her head on one side.
аааааааа"No, I guess it's a good idea," James admitted. "I just hate the idea of looking like I'm trying too hard. You know, doing everything like my dad did. Like I told Cameron, I'm not the one with the lightning bolt scar on my forehead."
ааааааааRose studied James. "Then why do you keep rubbing it?"
ааааааааJames dropped his hand, suddenly realizing that he was indeed touching his forehead. "What do you mean?"
аааааааа"You've been rubbing at your forehead for the last few days," Rose replied. "You look like an advertisement for Haberdasher's Anti-Headache Headwear."
аааааааа"It's true," Ralph added, nodding. "Maybe you should wear your glasses more if not wearing them is making your head hurt."
ааааааааJames was somewhat annoyed. "It's not my bloody glasses. I don't know what it is. I've just got an itch, that's all."
аааааааа"You've got a constant itch on your forehead?" Ralph blinked.
аааааааа"It's not 'constant'," James said. He glanced at Ralph and Rose. "Is it?"
ааааааааRose looked a bit concerned. "Maybe you should go see Madam Curio down in the hospital wing, James."
аааааааа"That's the last thing I need," James said, chuckling. "It's nothing, really. I'd barely even noticed it. It does seem a little weird though."
аааааааа"You've just been thinking about it all too much," Rose said reasonably. "No one is expecting you to be your father. Don't obsess over it."
ааааааааJames agreed, and he hoped Rose was right. As he said goodnight and climbed the stairs, he wondered about the phantom itch on his forehead. He really hadn't given it any thought until now, but it was a just a little bit strange, wasn't it, having a persistent itch in the place of his father's famous scar? No way would he be asking Madam Curio about it. It was bad enough, what with Cameron Creevey expecting him to shoot fireworks out of his bum on one hand, and Scorpius Malfoy accusing him of delusions of grandeur on the other. The last thing he needed was for a rumor to get started that James Potter was scratching at a phantom lightning bolt scar. Especially on top of the fact that he very well might be starting a club reminiscent of his dad's Dumbledore's Army.
ааааааааAs James was getting ready for bed, it occurred to him that, had he not had the conversation with Tabitha Corsica and gone away feeling worried and peeved, he might not have agreed so easily to the creation of the new D.A.D.A. club after all. Her words had left him feeling small andridiculous, but the idea of starting a new Defence Club gave him a feeling of importance again. Was that reason enough to go through with it? He hoped it was a good idea, but really, he wasn't overly concerned about it. There were still two hurdles that needed to be overcome for the club to happen.The first was to get Merlin's approval, the secondаwas to find Cedric and ask him to teach it. If either refused, then the club would never be. That seemed like good enough odds to James. Thinking that, he closed his eyes and drifted to sleep.
ааааааааA grey, humid afternoon greeted James, Rose, and Ralph as they finished their Saturday lunch and headed out to wander the school grounds. It was one of those strange days at the beginning of autumn when it is too muggy to wear a jacket but too wet and breezy to go without. Rose huddled in a heavy jumper as James and Ralph threw rocks into the lake, admiring the splashes.
аааааааа"I think we should just ask him straight up," Ralph said, heaving a stone sidearm. "Like you said last night, Rose, there's no reason for him to say no."
аааааааа"That's what I thought then," Rose replied. "But that was last night."
ааааааааJames glanced back at her. "A lot's changed since then, has it?"
аааааааа"I stayed up late last night, reading," Rose said. "I wanted to get a head start on some of the books our Wizlit textbook suggested, like I told you in the library."
аааааааа"You sure don't waste time," Ralph commented.
аааааааа"I happen to like reading. Besides, not surprisingly, our Headmaster shows up occasionally in some of those books and I thought it'd be worth checking into his history a bit more before we talked to him."
ааааааааRalph lowered his throwing arm and looked up at the sky, squinting. "It's so weird. I was there when it happened, but I keep forgetting our Headmaster is the famous Merlin from all the old legends and myths. It's a little hard to wrap your mind around, isn't it?"
аааааааа"I told you a lot of people find it a bit unsettling that Merlinus Ambrosius is Headmaster of Hogwarts," Rose said meaningfully. "And I found out why, a little bit. There's loads of stories about him in the old books of the kings. It's almost impossible to figure out what's made-up and what might be real, but even if only a tiny bit of it is true, it's pretty worrying."
аааааааа"Like what?" James asked, prying a large rock out of the bank of the lake.
аааааааа"Like kings used to hire him to curse armies. Not bad armies, necessarily; just any army that any king with enough treasure happened to dislike. More than once, when Merlin got to the army he was paid to curse, they would send out people to pay him more to go back and curse the kingthat'd originally hired him. And he did!"
аааааааа"Sounds pretty practical, if you ask me," Ralph said, heaving a stone with both hands. It splashed nearby, wetting both James' and Ralph's shoes.
аааааааа"This isn't funny, Ralph," Rose admonished. "He was a magical mercenary. A man like that wouldn't have any loyalty at all! Some of those armies he cursedЕ they got completely slaughtered, sometimes even before they got to the battle! There'd be floods, cyclones, even earthquakes where the ground would open up right beneath the army camp, swallowing them all whole."
аааааааа"That can't be true," James commented. "I mean, Merlin's powerful, but nobody can do that."
аааааааа"You're forgetting where Merlin gets his magic from," Rose replied as if she'd been prepared for such an argument. "According to the legends, Merlin can tap into the power of nature. We saw him doing that the night he took us to get his stuff. Nature is huge, and it was even huger back then, with less civilization. Who knows what a wizard like that would be able to do?"
ааааааааRalph brushed his hands off on his jeans. "I don't think 'huger' is a word."
аааааааа"Don't you start correcting me," Rose said, looking back and forth between James and Ralph. "Why are neither of you taking this seriously?"
аааааааа"Because like I said, we were there, Rose," Ralph replied. "We saw the man Reapparate from the Dark Ages. We worked with him in the days after. He helped us get rid of that Muggle reporter, who was going to blow the lid off the whole magical world. He was completely brilliant about it. He may have been a loose cannon in the past, but he's different now, isn't he? He's trying to be good, and he seems to be doing pretty well with it."
аааааааа"Well," Rose said, "it isn't just that he was a loose cannon."
ааааааааJames plopped down on the grass next to her. "What? Did he put ketchup on his eggs? Did he draw mustaches on portraits?"
ааааааааRose looked at him, and then looked away. "According to some of the legends, he was supposed to be the bearer of an awful curse. His returning was to be an omen of the end of the world."
ааааааааJames felt a twinge of worry at that, but kept his voice even. "This is the part where it's hard to separate the fact from the loony made-up stuff, right?"
аааааааа"Laugh if you want," Rose said, "but the prophecy shows up in a lot of places. Some call him the Harbinger of Doom. Other places just call him the Ambassador; of what, it never says. It gets pretty creepy," she admitted, shuddering. "Especially when you are reading it in the middle of the night."
аааааааа"So far, he's just been the Ambassador of an extra ten points for Gryffindor and Slytherin because we helped him go get some magic box," Ralph said, shrugging. "Come on, it's almost two. He'll be expecting us."
аааааааа"You coming, James?" Rose asked, climbing to her feet.
ааааааааJames glanced up. "What? Oh. Yeah, sure."
ааааааааThe three plodded through the foggy afternoon, heading for the courtyard. In the distance, thunder rumbled like a veiled threat and the wind began to switch. James was thinking rather nervously of the skeleton in the cave, Farrigan, the long lost associate of Merlin, and of Cousin Lucy's letter about the Gatekeeper. In the light of those things, Rose's tale of the legendary curse of Merlin sounded uncomfortably familar. James couldn't remember it exactly, but the skeleton had said something about a gate, and about things coming through, all because of Merlin's return. The Borleys had come through, at the very least. Merlin acknowledged that. But he claimed to have captured all of them except for the last one, the one that had followed James from that night at the Grotto Keep. Merlin said he'd trapped them all in his mysterious Darkbag. But the skeleton had warned of something else, something worse. Like the legends, it had also called Merlin the Ambassador, but Farrigan had identified the thing Merlin was supposedly representing: theGuardian, the Sentinel of Worlds, the Gatekeeper. Lucy's letter had corroborated those legends, and now Rose's studies were confirming them as well. James shuddered as he followed Rose and Ralph into the castle.
ааааааааThey threaded their way through the weekend-empty corridors, passing darkened classrooms and halls. Finally, they reached the gargoyle which guarded the entrance to the spiral steps.
аааааааа"You remember the password, Rose?" Ralph asked. "I couldn't even pronounce it, and you know how they are about writing things like that down."
ааааааааRose screwed up her face, thinking. Finally, she carefully pronounced, "In ois oisou."
ааааааааThe gargoyle moved with the sound of millstones grinding. It stepped aside, revealing the doorway.
аааааааа"What's it mean?" James asked as he hopped onto the rising staircase.
ааааааааRose shook her head. "It's more of that ancient Welsh, I'd guess. Who knows what it means?"
ааааааааThey arrived in the hall outside the Headmaster's office and James reached to bang the door knocker.
аааааааа"Wait," Rose said, grabbing James' arm. "Remember this morning? He told us to wait outside. He said he had another appointment before us."
ааааааааJames remembered. He carefully lowered the knocker and the three settled onto a long bench situated across from the Headmaster's door.
ааааааааOn the wall next to the door, amongst an arrangement of old paintings and portraits, was a face James recognized.
аааааааа"Look," James nudged Ralph, pointing. "I remember him. Old Stonewall used him in Technomancy last year to teach us about magical portraits."
ааааааааThe portrait of Cornelius Yarrow, former Hogwarts bursar, peered at James over his spectacles. "I remember you too, young man. You had a rather unseemly number of questions regarding the subject. I hope you were satisfied."
аааааааа"I was," James answered. "I especially liked the part about how only the original artist can destroy a magical portrait. It was really wicked when Stonewall melted his painting of that horrid clown."
аааааааа"Your Professor Jackson did leave out one small detail," Yarrow sniffed, chafing at the memory. "There is one other person who can destroy a portrait, although it has never been known to happen."
аааааааа"Seems like a pretty important detail to leave out," James frowned doubtfully. "Frankly, with all due respect, I'd trust him rather more on the subject thanЧ"
ааааааааTwo things happened simultaneously, interrupting James. The door to the Headmaster's office unlatched and swung open and a stab of pain shot through James' forehead. He clapped a hand to his head and squeezed his eyes shut, hissing in surprise.
аааааааа"James?" Rose asked, concerned.
ааааааааAlmost as quickly as it had come, the pain vanished. James kept his hand to his forehead but risked opening his eyes. The first thing he saw was the view through the Headmaster's open doorway. Merlin was standing behind his desk, his face grave and his eyes piercing. He was staring very hard at James through the doorway, but the look on his face did not seem worried or alarmed. If anything, he looked intently watchful, perhaps even wary.
аааааааа"Are you all right, James?" another voice asked. James lowered his hand and looked around. Petra Morganstern was standing in the hall, having just exited the Headmaster's office. She looked flushed, and her eyes were red, as if she'd been crying.
аааааааа"I'm fine," James answered. "IЕ I should be wearing my glasses." He glanced at Rose and Ralph, warning them not to say anything.
аааааааа"Oh," Petra said, looking away. "Well, I'll see you later. I've gotЕ things to do."
ааааааааJames watched her walk away, wondering once again why Petra seemed so melancholy all of a sudden. And what in the world had Merlin said to her to upset her even more? James stood, looking back into the Headmaster's office again. Merlin was no longer staring at him with that hard, watchful look. He was turned to the side, studying a complicated brass device in his hands.
аааааааа"Come in, my friends," Merlin called without looking.
ааааааааAs the three students entered the office, James couldn't help looking around in awe. Save for the old headmasters' portraits and the desk, the room was virtually unrecognizable as the same space McGonagall had occupied last term. A massive stuffed crocodile hung from the ceiling, looking like an exhibit in a museum. Bookshelves crowded the floor, crammed with enormous volumes in thick, leather covers. Alongside these were arcane tools and fixtures, none smaller than a cabinet, and all mind-bogglingly complex. Attached to the wall behind Merlin's desk was a glass case housing athick black sack, hung on silver hooks. James recognized it as the mysterious Darkbag. The centerpiece of the room, however, was a very large, long mirror with a rectangular golden frame. The silvered glass of the mirror only half-reflected the room. Beyond the reflection, a swirling, leaden mist rolled and shifted. It was both beautiful and vaguely sickening. The mirror rested on a long brass easel in the center of the room, facing the Headmaster's desk.
аааааааа"As promised," the Headmaster said, "the contents of my cache. Not all of it, of course, but enough to make my job rather easier."
ааааааааThere was only one chair facing the Headmaster's desk. James, Ralph, and Rose gathered around it, though none chose to sit on it. They continued to look around the room in awe.
аааааааа"You've noticed my Mirror, Mr. Potter," Merlin said conversationally, still not looking up from the strange device he was holding. "Very curious, yes? I see that you wish to ask me about it. Please feel free."
аааааааа"What does it do?" James replied bluntly.
аааааааа"The real question, Mr. Potter, is what doesn't it do?" Merlin said, finally setting the strange brass device on his desk and looking up. "It is the legendary Amsera Certh, the quintessential Magic Mirror of time immemorial. With the help of its Focusing Book, it can show you the past and the future. It can show you places you have been and replay ancient memories. It can even tell you, if you so wish, who is the fairest in the land. I fail to see the practical purpose of such information, but the Mirror's designer was a bit of an eccentric."
ааааааааMerlin stood and moved slowly around his desk, approaching the Mirror. "Only two such mirrors were ever made. The sister of this one belonged to an associate of mine who, like all of my associates, is long since dead. That mirror, alas, is also lost to the mists of time."
Дата добавления: 2015-09-29; просмотров: 24 | Нарушение авторских прав
| <== предыдущая лекция | | | следующая лекция ==> |