Hogwarts: A Future

Chapter Fifteen: Advice and Arguments

Break was only too welcome after the mornings lessons. Edwin and Petra appeared to still be fighting, with Petra completely ignoring Edwin and Edwin being forcibly cheerful. Iapetus and Al were unconcerned by the sibling squabble, whereas Scorpius made various attempts to talk to the twins.

'Leave them, Scorp,' Iapetus said with resignation. His expression made Al wonder if he had had similar fights.

Al asked, with some curiosity, 'Have you got brothers or sisters?'

Iapetus frowned and shrugged. 'Nope. I grew up with sort of cousins for a bit.'

Wisely, Al dropped the topic. Instead he filled them in on what he had seen the evening before and suggested they go find Victoire. Everyone seemed to be in agreement apart from Petra, who said in a loud voice, 'Oh, I'm not sure I should, asking questions and expecting answers, being open and honest, it isn't something I should be around apparently. I'm off to find Rach and Rose.' With that she flounced away across the paved courtyard and into the castle.

'Lets go then,' Edwin spoke as though Petra had not said a word.

The boys spent some time looking for Victoire, a glance into the Library, Great Hall and two other courtyards showed only her absence, until they finally tracked her down coming out of the staff common room.

'Vickie! Hey!' Al cried, rushing down the long corridor as Victorie emerged from the staffroom.

'Hi Al,' Victoire smiled but appeared tired. Her headgirl badge was pinned slightly crookedly, gathering the fabric of her robes, which themselves appeared dishevelled.

'What's happened with Peeves?'

Victoire sighed good naturedly at Al's eagerness. Moving to one side of the corridor she gestured for the group to follow her.

'He seems to be the victim of a jinx gone wrong. Someone was stupid enough to muck about with an experimental spell, that's all. He'll be back to his old ink-spraying, dungbomb-throwing, carpet-loosening self in no time.'

'Oh,' the boys glanced at one another, disappointed.

'There's something else though,' Iapetus nudged Al.

'Yeah, I saw a weird shadow thing, Vickie. It just vanished when I followed it.'

They held their breath waiting for Victoire to answer. She looked down into each boy's eager face, her grey eyes inscrutable. Finally she laughed.

'All right, it was probably your own shadow you were following, Al. Or one of the ghosts not wanting to show themselves.' Victoire shook her head slightly, 'that's all I can think off. Now, I'm off to have a nap. I was up all night helping the teachers with Peeves, and I still have Transfig last thing this afternoon.' She yawned hugely, 'which could go very wrong if I'm tired. See you later.'

They watched her leave before turning to one another.

'That's that then.' Edwin shrugged, 'looks like that's all there was too it.'

'No, it wasn't my shadow,' Al rubbed his forehead, 'nothing like it.'

'We'll check the books on apparitions, ghosts and stuff like that anyway,' Scorpius smiled encouragingly. 'I like a good mystery to solve.'

'Can you be sure though, Al?' Iapetus asked. 'I'm not doubting you saw something, but maybe it was whoever jinxed Peeves, or you were tired or something.'

Al shook his head, 'No. It even felt weird. You know how it feels when you go into a room and you don't see anyone, not at first, but you know someone else is there?'