The Spark {Book 5 in the Star of Gryffindor Series}

Chapter 31 - Seeking Truth

The Daily Prophet
Issue No. 102,179
8 May 2022

Suspect in Muggle Murder Connected to Predatels!

Three days ago, aurors Ernie Macmillan and Sylvia Brewster captured a halfblood wizard who is a suspect in a muggle murder investigation. It's thought that he is connected to the Predatels.

Micah Gogh is thought to have broken into the home of Sam and Melissa Williams, muggle residents of Glasgow with two children. He allegedly snuck into their home, murdering both adults and their ten-year-old son. However, there was no sign of their five-year-old daughter, Cassie. When Gogh was apprehended, he refused to give any information on the child's whereabouts, though Brewster claims he admitted to the murder. Officials are deciding whether to hand him over to the muggle investigators or deal with the situation themselves...

~~~~

"No." James glared at both of us. "Leave me alone."

"James, I'm serious, this is important," I said, glancing around even though the corridor we were in was empty.

"If you're just going to tell me that Wren is a traitor again, I don't want to hear it," he said, shaking his head. He turned to go. "If you'll excuse me, I have actually important things to do, like get ready for the match tomorrow."

Albus grabbed his arm before he could walk way. "Just listen, okay? It'll only be a second. We have evidence."

James paused, then turned to look at us again. "What sort of evidence?" he asked slowly.

I smiled at Albus quickly. That was a start. Quickly, we told him about my dream (he rolled his eyes and said it couldn't be real, but he seemed like he didn't quite believe that) and what I'd overheard Colette and Wren arguing about. That actually gave him pause.

"They... She was threatening her?"

I nodded. "Wren said she couldn't lie to 'them' anymore, and I think she meant us because she was definitely talking about us earlier. And Colette got mad and said someone would kill Wren, and everyone, if she stopped."

James blinked, then shook his head. "I think you've got to be misunderstanding something."

"What could we possibly be misunderstanding?" Albus asked. "Not only that, but last night, Astra tried to go up and eavesdrop again, and they'd put some spell on the door so she couldn't hear them."

"No wonder, if she was listening in on their private conversations!" James said, frowning.

"Private conversations about being traitors!" I said, narrowing my eyes. "I know that wasn't an argument about Ancient Runes, James."

"Maybe not, but you don't know what it is," James said weakly. Neither Albus or I answered, only frowned at him. James finally crossed his arms. "I'm not going to believe this. It's not possible. Leave me alone, and if you try to tell me about any of it again, I'll tell Wren."

"Don't do that!" Albus exclaimed. "Are you an moron?"

"Are you?" James asked, his tone vicious. He turned and started walking off. "You two are getting bloody ridiculous."

We watched in shock as he stalked off. After he'd turned the corner and his footsteps had faded away, I turned to Albus. "How on earth can he be such a git?"

Albus shook his head. "This isn't good. I don't want him to get hurt."

"Me neither. What can we do?"

Albus shrugged, defeated. I felt the same way. How could James not see the truth? I had a feeling he could, honestly. He could see it; he just didn't want to. And so he was lying to himself, trying to force himself to believe a lie. I couldn't completely blame him. Hadn't I done the same thing? And Wren was his girlfriend; this had to be difficult. I smiled a bit, seeing a bit of hope. "Let's just give him time to think it all over, okay? We took forever to get used to this idea, after all."