аааааааа"It is a shame about Josephina, I suppose," he said, "but I'm really glad you got the part. I'd much rather play Treus for you than for her."
аааааааа"Places, everyone!" Curry called. "Mr. Potter, Miss Morganstern, this way please."
ааааааааPetra glanced away at the sound of Curry's voice. "Come, James," she said, striding away, "our public awaits."
ааааааааJames felt himself blush. He watched Petra walk across the stage and then ran to catch up.
аааааааа"Are you sure you don't want to come to Dad's flat with me for the holiday?" Ralph asked James and Rose as the three lurked around the halls late Saturday morning. "I came to your Christmas last year, so it'd be a fair trade. Dad's going to cook a goose and everything. Of course, there won't be any singing elf heads or Winkles and Augers or anything,"
аааааааа"That's all right, Ralph," James answered. "I rather prefer a Christmaswithout singing elf heads, actually. But really, I think it'd be best for us to stay here."
аааааааа"It's all right not to have magic for Christmas. There's no shame in your father being a Squib," Rose said, putting her hand on Ralph's shoulder, which was rather a reach for her. "He's quite an important man in the wizarding world these days. Head of Security and Precautionary Interference for Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, even Gringotts Bank, isn't he? Nobody else but him could do that since nobody else understands both Muggle electronics and magic like he does."
аааааааа"Yeah, I know," Ralph said, grinning sheepishly. "And he's really good at it. He's helping the Ministry develop a new kind of Disillusionment Charm that only works on Muggle global positioning devices. I mean, the greatest flaw in the regular Disillusionment Charm is that a GPS device doesn't have a brain to fool. He's calling the new spell an 'Artificial Stupidity Hex'. He used to work on artificial intelligence software, so he says this is the next logical step. Once the hex is in place, it makes any Muggle positioning device see detours, roadblocks, heavy traffic, even cyclones and floods around any magical place. That way, both the Muggles and their technology will find those magical places invisible."
аааааааа"That's brilliant," Rose said. "I mean, older generations of wizards never could have predicted the development of things like satellites and GPS devices and GameDecks with online chat capability. The wizarding world really needs a man like your dad to develop magical protections against things like that. He really was a godsend."
аааааааа"Still," Ralph said, his face falling a little, "Dad has taken his old name again. Dolohov. He says he isn't going to let the selfishness of his father rob him of his magical heritage, but I know a little bit about that heritage, and it isn't all that great."
аааааааа"You father's right," Rose said firmly. "You aren't responsible for anything your distant relatives did. I think it's very cool that your dad is changing the way people see the name Dolohov."
ааааааааRalph shrugged. "He's not changing it foreveryone. Lots of people still hate the Dolohov name. Some of them are right here in school. Everybody knows what happened here. I mean, my uncle killed Ted Lupin's dad right downstairs. The Dolohov name is the name of murderers and traitors."
аааааааа"It was awful that some of your family were so bad in the past," Rose replied, "but that was a long time ago. People shouldn't blame you for that."
ааааааааRalph sighed. "I suppose not, but they do. And honestly, I can't blame them. It's why I still go by the name Deedle. I hate my own grandparents even though they're long dead. Dad remembers them, and he wants to believe they weren't as bad as they seem. He's sort of trapped between loving them and hating them. But what kind of parents abandon their kid because he's different? What kind of people make that kid swear to never seek them out, or even talk about them?"
ааааааааRose didn't have an answer to that. The three wandered the halls aimlessly, passing tall windows, moving in and out of pools of cold winter sunlight. After a few minutes, James told Ralph and Rose about his conversation with Albus after the last Quidditch match.
аааааааа"He says he didn't take the Invisibility Cloak and the Marauder's Map?" Rose said. "Do you believe him?"
ааааааааJames shrugged. "I don't know. He sure seemed honest about it. But he was really moody. Apparently he's pretty tight with Tabitha and her Fang and Talons cronies, and they've been telling him that I'm jealous of him, that I'm going to try to mess things up for him somehow."
аааааааа"And are you?" Ralph asked.
аааааааа"What?" James replied. "Oh yeah. I keep forgetting you're a Slytherin too. No, Ralph. I'm not jealous of Al, and I'm not going to try to sabotage him. I just don't want him to fall for any of Tabitha's lies. She's already got him convinced that she needs him because she's going through some mysterious personal tragedy."
ааааааааRose arched her eyebrows. "Really? What tragedy?"
"I don't know. She was all upset after the match, and not just because they lost."
аааааааа"She has been pretty ugly around the common room lately," Ralph said. "She's not been her normal polite, ice queen self at all. She's snapping at people a lot, and stalking around, or sitting all by herself in the corner, mooning over parchments and books. I've even seen her send Philia and Tom Squallus away. But she doesn't send Albus away. It looks a little odd, really. I mean, she's a seventh-year and a foot taller than him. Not a likely pair, if you ask me."
аааааааа"Curious," Rose said, narrowing her eyes. "I wonder what's going on with her."
аааааааа"But what about the Cloak and the map?" Ralph asked. "If Albus really doesn't have them, and you don't have them, James, then who does?"
ааааааааJames slumped. "I don't know. Honestly, I don't care. Maybe Dad misplaced them somehow. Maybe Kreacher hid them away in his cupboard. He used to do that all the time at Grimmauld Place with all old Mrs. Black's stuff."
аааааааа"You should tell your mum to check there," Rose said.
аааааааа"It's not my problem, Rose," James snapped.
аааааааа"It's your problem if she keeps thinking you stole them," Rose replied smoothly. "But whatever suits you. Maybe you prefer letting everyone think you're a thief."
ааааааааThe three stood by a window overlooking the courtyard. At the bottom of the main steps, Hagrid was loading trunks and bags onto a carriage, preparing to transport a group of students to the Hogwarts Express for their trip home. James sighed.
аааааааа"I'd better go pack," Ralph said. "Dad's picking me up at the station tonight. We're spending the night in Hogsmeade so he can meet with some storeowners there, and then we're going back to London tomorrow."
аааааааа"Sounds fun, Ralphinator," James said, trying to buck up a bit. "Have a good holiday. Stay out of the Shrieking Shack."
аааааааа"Count on it," Ralph agreed. "I avoid anything with the word 'shrieking' in it."
13.CHRISTMAS ATHOGWARTS
By the next day, the school had emptied almost entirely. The corridors seemed eerily dark and silentаwith most of the classrooms shut and locked. As James made his way to breakfast on Sundayаmorning, he saw Cedric Diggory's ghost at the end of a long hall. He seemed to be in conversation with the Grey Lady. Both were floating slowly down the hall away from him. James decided not to interrupt them. Was it possible that Cedric fancied the Grey Lady? She was pretty enough, in a ghostly way, and she didn't appear to be much older than Cedric in human terms. In another sense though, she was several centuries older than Cedric, but maybe that didn't matter in the ghostly realm. Either way, it was far too bizarre for James to think about. He continued on his way to breakfast, shaking his head.
ааааааааIn the Great Hall, Rose was sitting at the Slytherin table with Albus. As James joined them, he heard them talking about the sale of the Burrow. It was a thoroughly depressing conversation, and James stayed out of it. Later, he suggested that the three of them go out and build snowmen in the courtyard. This was heartily agreed to, and the three spent the noon hours happily laughing and romping in the new snow. They succeeded in building a rather ridiculously large snowman, using their wands to levitate the enormous snowballs into position since they were far too heavy to lift.James and Rose attempted to levitate Albus himself up to the snowman's head to attach the carrot nose, but they were unable to keep him upright. Albus rolled over in the air until he was floating upside down. His hat fell off and plopped into the snow twelve feet below.
аааааааа"Don't drop me!" he yelled, flapping his arms like an awkward bird. On the ground, wands in hand, Rose and James laughed so hard that tears squeezed from their eyes and rolled down their red cheeks.
аааааааа"The carrot, Al!" Rose cried breathlessly. "Stick it in! What's the matter? Can't you fly?"
аааааааа"Give me a broom and I'll fly," Albus griped, kicking his legs to turn himself upright again. "Next time, you get carrot duty, Rosie."
ааааааааThe three finally blundered inside as the sun lowered toward the horizon in a blaze of orange and pink. They left their snowy cloaks, hats, and gloves in a dripping trail as they made their way to the Great Hall for cocoas and afternoon snacks. James was glad of the break and the time to spend as a family. He purposely avoided talking about Merlin or the missing Invisibility Cloak and Marauder's Map.
аааааааа"We should do this again next year," Rose said, smiling over her cocoa, her cheeks red. "It's sort of fun having the place to ourselves. Next year, we can get Hugo and Lucy and everybody else to stay with us."
аааааааа"What about Louis?" Albus asked, smiling crookedly.
аааааааа"He can stay too, I suppose, just so long as he doesn't talk," Rose said magnanimously.
аааааааа"He probably wouldn't want to stay," James commented. "He went home this year with Victoire, you know. Of course, she wants to see Ted. Louis is just along for the ride."
аааааааа"Are they spending all their time out at the Burrow packing?" Rose asked.
ааааааааAlbus shrugged morosely. "Packing's all done. Grandma Weasley managed that all by herself. I mean, how hard is packing for a witch like her? The big job is dividing everything up. Grandma and Granddad had an awful lot of stuff. And then there's the ghoul to take care of."
аааааааа"Who's getting that?" Rose asked, frowning a little distastefully. "It better not end up in my mum and dad's attic."
аааааааа"I bet it does," James replied, stirring his cocoa. "In fact, I bet your parents just move it into your room while you're at school. After all, it still looks quite a bit like Uncle Ron when he was our age. They may even like it better than you."
ааааааааRose rolled her eyes. "You'll have to try harder than that to get a rise out of me, James Potter."
аааааааа"I bet it's in your room even now," Albus said thoughtfully, "wearing your make-up and trying on your knickers."
ааааааааRose nearly knocked her cocoa over lunging for Albus. James and Albus hooted laughter, earning an annoyed look from a house-elf cleaning a nearby window.
ааааааааTime crept by surprisingly slowly as Christmas approached. James, Rose, and Albus spent the time playing Winkles and Augers in each other's common rooms, exploring the snow-covered grounds, and visiting Hagrid in his hut. Meals were taken in the company of the few remaining studentsand teachers, among whom were Fiera Hutchins, Hugo Paulson, and, to James' surprise, Josephina Bartlett, whose vertigo was only slightly better. She could manage sitting on a bench at the Ravenclaw table, although if she happened to drop a bread crust or a fork, she was completely unable to bend over to retrieve it. James felt a little sorry for her, but then he saw her yelling tersely at one of the house-elves to retrieve a new fork for her and determined that her arrogance and general insufferability had not been greatly affected by her predicament.
ааааааааOn Christmas morning, James was rather shocked to be awakened by the smell of fresh kippers and a deep, bullfrog voice.
аааааааа"A merry Christmas to you, Master James," the voice said. "Lays there like a stone, he does, like his breakfast will stay hot by pure and simple magic until he decides he's ready to eat it, which it will, of course, but only because Kreacher works so hard day and night to hone the best Warming Charms for itЕ"
аааааааа"Kreacher?" James asked blearily, rubbing his eyes and sitting up. A tray of immaculately prepared breakfast had been laid over his legs. A black rose and a candy cane protruded from a tiny alabaster vase in the corner of the tray. "What are you doing here?"
аааааааа"Sent by your dear mum, Master James," Kreacher said, bowing low. He was standing at the end of James' bed, dressed only in his tea towel despite the cold of the room. "Already served Christmas breakfasts to Master Albus and Mistress Rose. Your presents await you below."
аааааааа"James!" Albus called from the common room stairs. "Come on! Kreacher won't let us unwrap anything until we're all together! Orders from Mum, of course. So chow down already!"
ааааааааJames bolted a few bites of the kippers and drank his pumpkin juice, thanked Kreacher, then flung himself out of bed. Rose and Albus were seated by the fire below, drinking tea and wearing green hats with jingle bells on the tips. Rose grinned and shook her head, ringing the tassels.
аааааааа"Festive, eh? They came from my mum. She knew we'd not have decorated or anything. Put yours on!"
ааааааааShe tossed one of the hats to James. He smiled and jammed it onto his head. Kreacher came slowly down the stairs. He had also donned one of the hats, although he wore it like it weighed a hundred pounds. The hat covered his eyes. He pushed it up with a thumb, peering at James, Rose,and Albus with one eye. "All present and accounted for," he said to himself. "Merry Christmas, Masters and Mistress."
ааааааааHe snapped his fingers. There was a change in the light of the room and James sensed that a sort of protective field had been removed from the stack of presents. Albus whooped and leapt off the couch, attacking the biggest one with his name on it. James grinned happily and joined in.
ааааааааKreacher remained with the three until all the presents were unwrapped, then, dutifully, he collected all the cast-off wrapping paper and ribbons. He rolled the debris up, compressing it into a remarkably dense, colorful ball, and then, strangely, stuffed it inside his green tasseled hat. He put the hat back on his head while Rose struggled not to giggle at the silliness of it.
аааааааа"Kreacher has been asked to inform you that your parents will speak to you tonight via Floo Network," the elf warbled. "Kreacher takes his leave of you now, Masters and Mistress. Do have a pleasant holiday."
аааааааа"You too, Kreacher," Rose said around a mouthful of gingerbread witch.
аааааааа"Indeed," Kreacher replied. He raised a spindly arm and snapped his fingers. The elf vanished in a puff of greenish smoke.
аааааааа"Always liked that elf," Albus proclaimed. "Knows how to keep it businesslike, he does. No beating about the bush."
ааааааааRose said, "I feel a little sorry for him. What does he get for Christmas?"
аааааааа"Oh Rose, you're as bad as your mum," James replied. "Two Christmases ago, Mum and Dad tried to give Kreacher a Christmas present. It was just a little basket with a pillow in it for him to sleep on. They bought it at a Muggle pet store, because the little brute refuses to sleep in a regular bed. He didn't want to accept it though, and when they insisted he keep it, he wouldn't even use it like he was supposed to. He's been using it ever since as a basket for carrying around the laundry!"
аааааааа"Honestly, Rose," Albus agreed, "Kreacher isn't made to be happy. We try. We really do. Especially Dad. Kreacher and him have a sort of history."
аааааааа"I know," Rose said. "He just seems so miserable."
аааааааа"Hah!" James exclaimed. "This is ecstatic by Kreacher's standards. I've heard about what he was like when Dad first inherited him. Kreacher sent him a box of maggots for a Christmas present."
аааааааа"He didn't!" Rose gasped, covering her mouth.
ааааааааAlbus pulled a homemade green and silver scarf out of one of his unwrapped boxes. He threw it around his neck. "Trust us, Rosie. This is Kreacher happy. Otherwise, we'd have gotten leeches for breakfast instead of kippers."
ааааааааThat afternoon, Albus took James and Rose down to the cellars and showed them the Slytherin's spell-casting range. Just as Albus had described, the room was long and low with clockwork dummies installed against the far wall. Albus illustrated how the range worked by whipping out hiswand and shooting a Stinging Hex at one of the dummies. It lifted its wooden arms and shook them in a parody of pain, as if it were being peppered with bee stings. Albus repeated the spell, laughing. James laughed as well, but a little nervously. Rose didn't laugh at all. She looked distastefully at Albus and crossed her arms.
ааааааааChristmas dinner in the Great Hall was as resplendent as any dinner James had ever attended despite the fact that the room was only a fifth full. Professors Knossus Shert and Lucia Heretofore, the new Potions teacher and Head of Slytherin House, were seated at the table on the dais.Hagrid sat between them, talking loudly and looking like what he was: a half-giant between two rather slight people. Heretofore looked obviously disgusted by Hagrid, although she masked it behind a thin smile. To James' surprise, Petra Morganstern was seated in the middle of the Gryffindor table, smiling slightly as Hagrid attempted to lead his fellow professors in a round of Christmas carols.
аааааааа"I didn't know you were here for Christmas," James said, sitting down at the table across from Petra.
аааааааа"Yeah," Rose agreed, "where've you been?"
аааааааа"I went down to Hogsmeade for a few days," Petra answered. "Did a little shopping. No point in moping around here all holiday."
"Why didn't you go home for Christmas?" Rose asked.
Petra shrugged, still smiling up at the dais. "No point, really. I already got my present, didn't I?"
ааааааааJames raised his eyebrows. "You mean that box that came by Ministry owl last month? We were all wondering about that. It came from your dad?"
ааааааааPetra nodded and sipped her Butterbeer. "Madam Rosmerta had this shipped from the Three Broomsticks for tonight. Did you know that? I talked to her yesterday."
аааааааа"So what did you get for Christmas?" Albus asked. "I got a new scarf, a box of sweets, and a Remembrall. Honestly, Mum should've given the Remembrall to James so he could keep track of Quidditch try-outs." He grinned at James.
аа а а аPetra looked at Albus, still smiling. "It was just some stuff. It wouldn't mean much to anyone butаme."
аа а а а"So that's why you ran off to open it by yourself," Albus commented. Rose kicked him under theаtable.
аа а а аPetra shrugged. "It's nice to have some time by ourselves, isn't it? I'm taking the time to learn my lines. Would you like to rehearse a little, James? Professor Curry would probably put us in her will if we came back from break knowing all of our lines."
аааааааа"Sure!" James said, a little too enthusiastically. He modulated his tone and added, "I mean, whatever. If you want to. I don't have much else planned."
аааааааа"You don't haveanything else planned," Albus smirked. "What, you have an interview with the Minister of Magic we don't know about? Ow! And Rose, you can stop kicking me under the table already!"
ааааааааPetra grinned at Albus, then James. "I'll see you later in the common room. Bring your script and we'll read through it, all right?"
аа а а аJames nodded, not trusting himself to speak. Petra left, walking slowly, thoughtfully.
аа а а а"James is in love with his leading lady," Albus mocked, making kissing noises.
аааааааа"I'm not in love with her, you prat," James scowled, pretending it was the most ridiculous thing he'd ever heard.
аааааааа"Oh James, you're not fooling anyone," Rose said, shaking her head. "It's obvious. It's kind of cute, actually."
аааааааа"Shut up!" James said, blushing furiously. "Just because I have to pretend to be in love with her for the play doesn't mean it's happened for real! Maybe I'm just a very good actor!"
ааааааааRose tried to mask a grin. "Well, then, you really are getting into your role, aren't you? I had no idea you were so dedicated to the craft. It's a good thing you aren't scripted to murder anyone."
James rolled his eyes dramatically. "You're both completely daft. Think whatever you want."
ааааааааAlbus studied James for a moment, and then made more kissing noises at him. "Oh Petra, I'm just a boy, but you make me feel like such a man!"
аа а а аJames grabbed a roll and hurled it at Albus, who collapsed into delighted laughter.
ааааааааWhen James returned to the common room a little while later, leaving Rose and Albus singing Christmas carols with Hagrid in the Great Hall, he was pleased and a bit flustered to find Petra sitting in a chair near the fire, script in hand. He ran up the steps to his dormitory, retrieved his own copy of the script from his satchel, and tramped back downstairs again, telling himself the entire time not to be a fool, that Rose and Albus certainly couldn't be right about his falling in love with Petra, and most of all, that even if it was true, it was preposterous to think she could ever return those feelings. She was nearly five years older than James, smart as could be, and totally stunning. Girls like Petra simply did not fancy gawky younger boys who still hadn't managed the knack of an Anti-Pimple Charm. James' face was flushed by the time he rejoined Petra, plopping ontoa nearby couch.
аааааааа"Alas, my dear Treus," Petra quoted, turning a page in her script, "thou doth set mine heart aflutter. Shall we start from the top?"
ааааааааJames began to answer, but his voice came out as a squeak. He cleared his throat. "Yeah. Sure. I'll read whoever you're talking to, and you can do the same for me."
аааааааа"I can do a pretty good Donovan," Petra agreed. "I even considered trying out for the part."
аааааааа"And I suppose Noah could've played Astra?" James grinned.
ааааааааPetra nodded. "A century ago, men often played the roles of women in these kinds of plays. Some places didn't even allow women to act at all. Turnabout is fair play, I'd say. Besides, sometimes I think it'd be fun to act the part of the evil rogue with the awesome powers. Women are always the pawns in these stories."
ааааааааJames thought she was possibly the prettiest pawn he'd ever seen, but he determined not to say it. He cleared his throat again and began to read aloud. Two hours later, once they'd finished the read-through, James noticed that Albus and Rose had entered the common room. They were seated at a rear table with Hugo Paulson, who was teaching Albus some Winkles and Augers techniques. James caught Rose looking at him furtively, a small smile on her lips.
аааааааа"Hey, James," Albus called, pocketing his wand. "Remember, we're supposed to be talking to Mum and Dad via Floo Network tonight. Or should I tell them you have more pressing matters to attend to?"
ааааааааJames glared at Albus, who simply grinned back at him.
аааааааа"It's fine, James," Petra sighed, closing her script. "I've had enough of this for tonight anyway. I'm going to head upstairs and write some Christmas letters. Thanks for the help."
аааааааа"It was fun," James agreed. "See you around, Petra."
ааааааааAs James watched Petra cross the room to the girls' dormitory stairs, Rose joined him on the couch.
аааааааа"You really should be careful, James," she said in a quiet voice.
James barely heard her. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, Petra's not in a position to respond the way you'd like her to."
аааааааа"I don't know what you're talking about," James insisted, finally turning around and closing his script. "We were just rehearsing."
аааааааа"It isn't just the age difference, you know. That's not that big of a deal in the long run. You need to realize that Petra's heart is obviously elsewhere."
ааааааааJames furrowed his brow and looked at Rose. "What's that mean?"
аааааааа"Well, it's obvious, James," Rose said, lowering her voice even further. "Petra didn't go down to Hogsmeade to do any shopping, no matter what she said. She was hoping to catch Ted before he left for the Burrow."
аааааааа"Why would she do that?" James asked, blinking.
ааааааааRose rolled her eyes and shook her head. "She's still in love with him, you prat. She's broken-hearted that he left her for Victoire."
аааааааа"But Noah said that she never really loved him," James said, frowning. "He said she knew all along that he wasn't a good match for her."
аааааааа"She may say that, but the heart does what it wants, doesn't it? She loves Ted. It's obvious. I just don't want you to do or say anything that could ruin your friendship with her. I don't want to see you get hurt."
ааааааааJames slumped back against the couch. "What do you think I am, Rose? A complete idiot? Even if what you say is true, I'd never say anything about it to Petra."
аааааааа"Sorry, James. Unrequited love is as poison to the soul, isn't it?"
аааааааа"Ha, ha," James replied crossly. "That's Treus' line in act two. You're very funny."
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