Freaks: Year Two

Safe Space

Jasper had thought Harry's condition would stay a secret.

But why would it when Rita Skeeter was involved?

Jasper had woken up on April 9th (which was Ethan's birthday!) and he had gotten ready for the day, getting dressed and ensuring the others were getting up and ready for the day and he headed down to the Great Hall and everything was normal until the Daily Prophet arrived.

The front page was normal and so was the second page and the third, but it was the gossip column that was the problem.

Celestina Warbeck's Son Possibly Dying In St. Mungo's?

Jasper's first instinct was to be worried but he soon realised it was probably Rita Skeeter and her crew snooping around that they had caught the Warbecks at St. Mungo's and now she had a good bit of gossip to stir up rumours in the Wizarding World and at Hogwarts.

Jasper exited the Great Hall just as people were starting to whisper about it and he was glad to be out of there because he did not want to deal with any questions. Anyone would have to realise it was just Rita Skeeter exaggerating things and go on about their day, but he did know that some of his housemates took everything in the gossip column as the truth and even if they didn't, he knew this would raise the question of why Harry was in St. Mungo's to begin with.

He would write Harry checking up on him and he would also ask Professor Virindi if he was allowed to visit. He was hoping to visit today or tomorrow as he thought that could cheer his friend up and he really did miss him. He just had to ask his Head Of House permission first.

He hoped her answer would be a yes.

"Jasper Odair!"

Jasper didn't need to turn to know who it was. There was only one person who called him both his first and last name. Soon, Alabaster was right in front of him, looking panicked. This worried Jasper. "Are you alright–"

"He's dying?!"

Jasper's eyes widened, forgetting that Alabaster would take the gossip column literally. He took many things literally and before he could say that it was just an exaggerated lie, Alabaster kept talking.

"Eve read the paper and she saw it so she told me about it because she does know that he is my tutor, I had no idea she knew, but I guess it is not that hard to figure out but is he really dying–"

"He's not dying," Jasper said quickly. "I promise. He is just in St. Mungo's to...heal. He is not dying. Rita Skeeter, she is the one who wrote the article, she always lies and likes to spread rumours. She takes one thing and blows it out of proportion. I promise, he is not dying."

Alabaster was relieved. He wouldn't have thought he would have been killed, but from the article title it did not look good. "But why would someone write something that is not true?"

"You still have a lot to learn," Jasper said. "But he is not dying. In fact, I was hoping to ask my Head Of House if I can visit him today. Maybe you would like to come along?"

"Well...I do have something to give him," Alabaster admitted. "It is something I drew."

Jasper smiled. "Then, come on, let's ask–"

"But I will deliver it when he is asleep."

Jasper turned back to him. "Why?"

"Because why would he want to see me when it was my cousin who attacked him?"

Jasper sighed. "Well...maybe I can give him a heads up and he can make that decision...er, how is Theodore?" Jasper never thought he would be asking that question but from what he had picked up from Alabaster, his parents were not what you called loving and nurturing.