SON OF MAGIC

SAY NO TO ROAMING OUTSIDE CASTLE GATES AT NIGHT

"Mr. Weasley, Mr. Potter, Miss Granger. May I know how did you found yourselves fit enough to roam outside the castle at this time?", Dumbledore asked them.

"Professor, it was those three. They weren't in their beds!", Ron said.

"Mr. Weasley,", Dumbledore said looking at him over his half-moon spectacles, "Do I expect anymore students to come looking for you since now you're out of your bed? If someone's breaking the rules doesn't mean you have to."

"They broke the rules first. Why aren't you saying anything to them?", Harry said angrily.

Dumbledore sighed and turned towards them.

"So, Mr. Jackson, why were you not in your dormitory?"

"Because you asked us to go to lake.", Percy said to Dumbledore, shrugging.

"Right. Harry", Dumbledore said turning to him, "With Voldemort back we have to collect our allies. I sent Mr. Jackson and his friends to talk to the mermen of their support."

"You can speak mermish?", Harry asked staring at Percy.

"Mermish? What's that?", Percy asked.

"The language of the mermen.", Ron replied looking as thought he didn't find it correct to add Duh! in the Headmaster's presence.

"Oh! Um... well I can sorta convince them to speak in english?", he said shrugging.

"Mr. Jackson has a way with sea creatures because of his .. ah.. family background.", Dumbledore said, "But we must not dwell on that. You three must return immediately to your dormitories. And Harry? We'll start our private lessons from Saturday 10 am onwards. You may leave now."

Harry, Ron and Hermione left the office enabling the other three to sit more informally.

"You went somewhere tonight?", Annabeth asked her half-brother, sprawling oh her chair.

"Alas, there are things for which I cannot send another wizard or witch.", said Dumbledore, "Now you three may also leave. It getting late and you have to attend the classes tomorrow. And be safe with your business. I covered up for you tonight but I'm not sure if I'll be able to do that again."

*****

"-arrogant, with his sickly humor-"

"And pretending casualness-"

"Yeah, and brain stuffed with-"

Ron and Hermione were constantly sprouting insults upon that Jackson on their way back to Gryffindor tower but Harry was having an empty feeling in his stomach. He was feeling uncomfortable with the way Dumbledore had addressed Percy.

No, jealous. Yeah, that was the word.

He had been accused of being Dumbledore's favorite, something he didn't really brag of but he felt like there were secrets Dumbledore trusted Percy to confide in but not him.

If he didn't suspect the new admissions earlier, he did now. They were hiding something but Dumbledore seemed to trust them.

Well, he thought, Dumbledore trusts Snape and that isn't leading anywhere.

"Blabbermouth", he absently said the password and went straight to his dormitory. After a few minutes, maybe half an hour later, he vaguely remembered two more students entering the boys dormitory but after the tough night he drifted back to sleep.