Artemis Hexley and the Return to the Riddles

Chapter 1: The Gathering Storm

The evening sky was grey, the turrets and pointed rooftops of Hogwarts castle cast in shadow by the ominous clouds, and the rain falling steadily on the cobbled streets of Hogsmeade Village. A cloaked wizard emerged from the Hog's Head Inn, his pale face and eyes half-hidden by his dark hood.

The wizard slipped around the corner of the inn and made his way through the maze of damp and darkened paths to an old building far up the hill, one with boarded windows and chipped paintwork, outside which a young woman - also hooded - was standing.

"Might be a bit scary for you, Miss," he said, and the woman turned to look at him. "You know, they say that it's the most haunted building in Britain."

"What are you doing here, Figden?" the woman replied, her voice and face terse. The wizard grinned.

"Guess again."

"I beg your pardon?"

The wizard who wasn't Figden screwed up his face, and his features grew more youthful. The witch tutted.

"Loken Burke," she muttered. "I should have known."

"Yes, you really should have. Come on, let's go in. I'm soaked."

With a glance over her shoulder, the young witch nodded. The door to the house was completely boarded over, but when Loken Burke tapped the boards in a rhythm with his wand, the two of them disappeared and reappeared inside.

The interior of the building was, if possible, even more dilapidated than the exterior. The wallpaper was browned and ripped, the furniture even more so, as if a great beast had been let loose within.

"You're late," a woman's imperious voice called out from down the hallway. "Burke, we have had words about this before."

"Of course, Madam Buckthorn," said Burke, following the woman's voice to a small sitting room, and bending down to kiss the hand of the grey-haired witch the voice belonged to. He gestured to the woman behind him. "I found a friend."

"I was wondering where you were, too, my dear."

"I'm afraid I that became distracted," came the reply from the younger witch, lowering her hood and bowing her head to the elder. "I was reading about the trial. I'm presuming that is why you called us here?"

"Actually," said Burke, before Madam Buckthorn had a chance to answer, "I called you here."

"You?"

"Anyone can call a meeting, love."

Burke winked at the young witch, who pursed her lips and took a seat on the remains of what had once been a sofa, next to a stout man with a rounded abdomen and pink, swollen nose. Against another wall stood a tall wizard, whose dark hair was lined with silver, leaning against the splintered mantelpiece.

"I come bearing good news." Burke's face split into a grin. "I unfortunately was unable to abduct the designated target."

"That's hardly good news."

"Ah, but I managed to get us something better. An Auror."

"An Auror?"

"Oh, yes. It means that the plan will differ somehow, but," Burke shrugged, "I think it will be easier to ingratiate myself with the Hexley girl this way. Win her trust. People trust Aurors, after all. And I will be able to find out some useful information."

"We don't need a change of plan, Burke," said Madam Buckthorn. "We have our plan. Once we have access to Azkaban, it will not be long until our circle is complete again. And then we just have the small issue of the Hexleys to contend with."