THE KEEPERS: A Hogwarts Legacy Story

Chapter 8

CRACK.

A train of jackdaws dispersed about, startled by the loud noise of the air splitting open. One by one, they resettled on nearby rocks and branches, and watched the figures that had disturbed their peace with keen eyes.

Sunan let go of Clarissa's arm and stumbled a few steps away. Another wave of Apparition sickness came over him. He stooped, hands on knees, and noted his surroundings. Judging by the mist-shrouded view of Hogwarts up ahead, and the long wooden bridge over the ravine that separated the school ground from the rest of the Highlands, he was at the school's south exit. A sensible destination for Apparition; they had fewer eyes to worry about here.

"You're hiding something," said Clarissa behind him.

Sunan sighed. He straightened himself. "I am not."

"You're not a good liar, Sunan. You know that too."

He rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. Oh, what he would give to stop this conversation right now.

"I'm going to ask you again." Clarissa stepped to his side and faced him. Her eyes were stern, demanding. "Is it true Rookwood cornered you outside of Ollivander's? Took you away by force?"

"No," he replied, wishing the lie would roll off his tongue more easily. "Like I said, it's just a rumour."

Clarissa's mouth set into a stiff line. She shook her head. "You must understand what you've gotten yourself into." She pulled out a folded piece of paper from the inner pocket of her jacket and handed it to him.

Sunan took it. On the corner of the fold was a round stamp that said, 'Ministère des Affaires Magiques - Bureau des Aurors,' and below it, an inked note: 'Preuve no. xxxx-xx; deposé le 2 Mai 1891.' Sunan opened it.

        Sunan Saelee

        Hogwarts student

        16 - 17 years old

        Grey hair

        Oriental

        Rookwood wants him alive. Report immediately upon capturing the target.

Sunan stared at the writing of his own name and description - flipped it, checked the noted date, and flipped it back.

"Rookwood is - looking for me?" He asked, trying not to stutter from the shock. "Was this why that Auror summoned me?"

"No. No one at the British Ministry is aware of this letter. I made sure of that."

Sunan frowned. He ran a hand through his hair, piecing together the bits of information he'd gathered earlier.

"This is why you sent me off to Siam for the summer," he blurted in sudden realization. "To keep the Ministry from finding out about me."

"To protect you, from the gang," Clarissa snapped, indignant. She snatched the letter back from his hand. "I know the Aurors. They were sure to use you as bait. I was never going to allow that."

Sunan scoffed. He rather thought she was more interested in keeping him hidden from the world. Her son, whose name had been scratched out from the Gladwell lineage.

"You've been very stubborn, not responding to a single one of my owls all year," said Clarissa, her voice rising with her exasperation. "Your father said to give you time, and I did, thinking you were busy catching up on your studies. But if I knew what you were getting into" - she threw both arms in the air - "sneaking out of the school grounds, charging into Ashwinder's hideouts? Making yourself the target of the most dangerous gang in entire Europe? What were you thinking?"