B.Q. Book Two: Black Princess Ascendant

Chapter 38: Murder is the Best Solution

Disclaimer: Did Muggleborn and Muggle-raised kids immediately and uniformly adopt swearing to Merlin, seemingly without any reservations at all?

If so, I don't own the Harry Potter franchise; it belongs to J.K. Rowling, Scholastic Press, Warner Bros., and whomever else she sold the rights to.

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There were many differences between the magical and Muggle worlds, but it was the little things that still caught Lily off-guard sometimes.

Having grown up in a Catholic household, appellations to Merlin occasionally sounded wrong to her ears even after twenty-five years, and she knew she was considered strange for refusing to go out into the various magical communities on Sundays.

The Sabbath wizards generally did not keep holy. This was a rare exception, and she was only going along with it because it was the one day Jenny said she could meet.

A witch at the other end of the pub glanced her way, and her heart skipped a few beats before the stranger dismissed Lily and turned back to her dinner. She knew intellectually that she had nothing to worry about; it was not a crime to be out in public, and at Jenny's strongly worded request she had covered herself in a glamour of an utterly unremarkable brunette. The problem was that very precaution had apparently told her instincts to be on the lookout for anything dangerous. If her daughter did not arrive soon, her heart might just give out before they had a chance to talk.

"Margaret, there you are! I almost thought you'd forgotten we were supposed to get together tonight."

A hand clapped down on her shoulder, and Lily looked up into unfamiliar eyes. Had she accidentally made her illusion look like a real person, someone who was supposed to be at the Three Broomsticks? That would be just her luck. "I'm sorry, sir, but I think you have me confused for someone else—"

His laugh cut her off. "I know it's been years since we last saw each other, but surely I don't look that different." The dirty-blond wizard flicked his eyes at their surroundings and hissed so softly that she could barely make it out, "Just shut up and play along." Her eyes widened – what was going on?! – but before she could say anything or try to get someone's attention, the strange man grabbed her right elbow and pulled her out of the chair. Shifting so he was no longer holding her up but instead had her wand arm pinned against his side, he dragged her toward the stairwell that led to the pub's private rooms.

Lily opened her mouth to scream for help, but not a peep emerged. He had silenced her!

They turned the corner, and now that they were out of the crowd's sight he inexplicably let her go with an irritated huff. This was certainly the strangest kidnapping she had ever imagined! "By the Baron, Lily, it's like you know nothing of subterfuge."

Confused by the strange oath, it took her a moment to realize what else had been said. "You know who I am?" The man gave her a look, and the pieces finally connected. "Wait, Jenn-ifer?"

If her daughter had noticed the verbal stumble on her name, she chose to ignore it. "How many other people were you planning to meet today? Did you think when I said you shouldn't look like yourself that I was just going to waltz inside with my natural appearance? That would completely ruin the point of sneaking out of the castle in the first place." She pulled open the door leading into the second of Rosmerta's private rooms, and though Lily could not see her face, she just knew her daughter was rolling her – his? – hazel eyes.