Case of the Cintimani Stone: A Hammer Mystery

Chapter 14

Something stuck with the Hammer from his talk with the American Professor - how no one wanted to look the problem in the eye. To him it held true with Voldemort and how many pure blooded wizards were afraid to use a ridiculous sounding name. The sentiment sent some new ideas rolling in his mind - because the adults all had the same approach he would have to be the one to make a move before the culprit behind the scene made theirs.

Juggling between his responsibility with schoolwork and the after school detentions with Professor Longbaugh took up all of Harry's free time - to the point where he had to catch one of the Weasley twins during lunch and arrange a meeting in one of the secret passages a week later. The plan was slowed to a crawl but it was still going. It wasn't until almost a week from the incident that Harry had something to say to Hermione.

"What you did hurt, you know." he spoke up finally during breakfast, adding a measure of wideye potion to his tea. They had gotten used to the fight they were having, sitting in silence next to each other with Neville nearby.

She looked up from her food, "You put yourself in danger, Harry. I wasn't going to watch you dig that grave any deeper."

"If everyone had left me well enough alone the only one in danger was Malfoy, the spineless daisy."

"What you did was wrong, Harry."

"No, what I did was against the rules, Hermione."

She slid her food away from her, turning to focus on her own drink, "I won't apologise for what I did."

"Neither will I." the Hammer put a toothpick in his mouth and chewed.

"Fine."

"Fine."

"You find anything on Flamel?"

"Not yet. I haven't had the time because of the Transfigurations assignments."

The Hammer sipped his tea. Professor Longbaugh had been helping him with the assignments when they finished the detention duties. He hadn't been entirely forthcoming with teaching more dangerous DADA oriented spells, but the extra practise on material in the curriculum had helped Harry advance his basic proficiencies quick enough to keep squarely ahead of what was required of him in class.

From all outward appearances, life returned to normal between them and the tension everyone else had been feeling between the two Ravenclaws eased. Harry still talked to her about the case when he could, but having all of his free nights taken up by detention hours for the full month that stretched all the way into October had stymied the subtle approach and careful research that she insisted they follow. Instead, Harry had his own plans.

Slipping away early during lunch a week later, the Hammer headed for the hall between the armoury and trophy rooms, tapping the side of the cabinet to open it up and slip inside. With his mastery of the wand lighting spell, he lit the way inside until he found the light of the Weasley twins' wands, the two of them leaning on the walls of the passage, twirling their wands idly.

"Hammer, how's it going?" George greeted him with an arc of his wandlight.

"How's the missus? Figure she wouldn't want you associating with characters of our ill repute." Fred asked him amicably.

"Good thing it's just us here then, boys. I'm not one to waste your time, especially since lunch is getting cold in the Hall."

"You do bring up a good point." Fred rubbed his stomach, "though let me be the first to say, between you and me, I'm a fan of your work."

The Hammer smirked, "I feel like you might be few and far between."

"Nonsense, Hammer. You've developed quite a fanclub amongst some of the other rapscallions around the school, though you really drew the line in the sand. I'm sure you've got just as many new enemies. So what is it you wanted from our little enterprise?"