Chapter Text
Jamie arrived at the Great Hall just in time to talk to his friends before the Start of Term Feast began. Penny was the first to greet him. ‘It’s great to see you, Jamie! How were your summer holidays?’
‘Difficult, honestly. The Daily Prophet reported what happened with the Cursed Vaults last year, so my mum knows everything. She hopes I’ll find out what happened to my brother, but she’s afraid I’ll end up missing too.’
‘We won’t let that happen, Jamie,’ Rowan assured him.
‘Thanks. I’m just glad to be back at Hogwarts with all of you, so we can try to find the next vault.’
‘Have you thought about the book and broken wand you found?’ Penny asked.
‘Are you joking? I haven’t let go of them since I left. I just wish I could figure out what they’re for…’
Rowan stroked his chin. ‘I did a lot of research the past couple of months, and have some theories. We can discuss them after Dumbledore’s speech.’
‘Is Dumbledore going to punish us for investigating the vaults?’ asked Ben in a concerned tone.
‘I don’t think so. He asked me to get away from them, but he wasn’t upset.’
Ben looked somewhat relieved. ‘Oh, that’s a relief. We’d better take our seats, Sorting's about to start...’ said Ben, glancing at the entrance gates through which McGonagall would walk through any second with new students. Returning to their respective House tables, the students went silent, waiting for the Sorting Ceremony to begin.
‘Welcome back to Hogwarts!’ said Dumbledore with open arms once everyone had been Sorted and seated. ‘I’m pleased to have all of you new and returning students here for another year of magical learning and self-discovery.’ His tone changed to a much more serious one. ‘Of course, I would be remiss if I did not address the Erumpent in the room. As many of you know, last year, Hogwarts was afflicted with cursed ice caused by one of the long-rumoured Cursed Vaults. The curse was released by someone attempting to enter a vault, so I am ordering everyone in this room to stay away from the rest! It’s said that tampering with each vault unleashes a unique curse, and I will not have my students and faculty endangered again. It is true that the students who opened the Cursed Vault broke the curse, and saved the school. It is also true they put all of us at risk by doing so. Students are absolutely forbidden from seeking the remaining vaults. The penalty for anyone caught doing so will be severe. Especially so for repeat offenders. It is the staff’s responsibility to take care of this situation, and ensure that Hogwarts is safe for everyone. So, once more…’ His voice suddenly became a deafening roar. ‘Do not attempt to locate and enter the Cursed Vaults!’ The students all covered their ears in pain. Returning to his usual volume, he continued. ‘My apologies. I hope that temporary damaging your eardrums has saved you from more permanent harm.’ With a smile, he closed his speech off. ‘Now, please enjoy your feast! I’ve had the opportunity to sample this year’s pumpkin tart, and it’s particularly tasty.’
‘So much for Dumbledore not being upset…’ thought Jamie.
Rowan, sitting next to him, asked, ‘What should we do?’
Jamie smirked. ‘Find the next Cursed Vault, so I can find my brother.’
‘I realise it’s reckless and irrational, but I was hoping you’d say that!’ Rowan admitted with a smile.
The next day, in the Herbology Greenhouses, before class begun, Professor Sprout greeted Jamie when he arrived. ‘James Smith! It’s very nice to see you in Herbology Class instead of searching for Cursed Vaults.’
‘Herbology is one of my favourite classes, Professor Sprout. How was your summer?’ Jamie replied politely.
‘Oh, how thoughtful of you to ask! Your brother was always the same way. My summer was splendid! I conducted several experiments on the composition of Dragon Dung Fertiliser.’
Curious, Jamie asked, ‘Composition?’
‘Yes! The quantity and quality of Dragon dung in the fertiliser has a tremendous impact on a plant’s growth.
Jamie’s inner Ravenclaw began to show when he commented, ‘How fascinating! I would love to examine the results of your test.’
‘Of course! Students rarely show the proper enthusiasm for Dragon dung. Ten points to Slytherin! Find your place now, it’s time for today’s lesson.’ Jamie did as he was told, and Professor Sprout addressed the class. ‘Today we will be learning to grow Valerian. The roots of this magical plant can be used in many potions. Let’s begin!’
‘Now I will demonstrate watering the plant. Miss Haywood, fetch a pail for me, would you please?’
Penny looked eager to help, replying, ‘Yes, Professor Sprout.’
While she retrieved the pail, a pink haired Hufflepuff whispered to Jamie, ‘Which of these do you think would work best for bothering a certain irritable, bird-like librarian?’
‘Tonks, I don’t think that’s such a-’ Before Jamie could finish, a scream broke through the class. A terrified Penny was staring at a werewolf standing on its hind legs on top of some pots.
‘A werewolf just burst out of that pot!’ cried Rowan.
‘How did a werewolf get here?!’ wondered Jamie, frozen in place.
‘It didn’t.’ Professor Sprout remained calm, approaching the young Hufflepuff and taking out her wand. ‘Stand back, Miss Haywood. Riddikulus!’
The werewolf changed, transforming into a teddy bear with a suit. Jamie stared at it, shocked. ‘If that wasn’t a werewolf, what was it?’
Sprout frowned. ‘A Boggart. Nasty shapeshifting creature. It takes the form of the victim’s worst fear. They are defeated by laughter, so you cast Riddikulus to change it into something humorous. To my knowledge, a Boggart has never been seen in the greenhouses…’ The teddy bear disappeared. ‘I must report this to Professor Dumbledore immediately. Class dismissed.’
During lunch, Jamie saw Penny talking to Bill, and approached them to check up on her. ‘Penny! Are you okay? You looked so shaken after that Boggart appeared in Herbology Class. I was worried about you.’
Penny gave an unconvincing smile. ‘Worried about me? I’m perfectly fine.’
‘I somehow have trouble believing that…’
Bill gave him a light punch on the arm. ‘Well, if it isn’t the Clobberer of Curses, the Pulveriser of Polar Platemail, James Smith! It’s good to see you!’ Puffing out his chest, which now sported a red badge, he asked, ‘Notice anything different about me?’
Penny rolled her eyes. ‘Brace yourself, Jamie. He’s been going on about it for the past hour.’
Bill ignored her. ‘I’m the new Gryffindor Prefect! They even gave me a shiny badge!’
‘Congratulations, Bill! That’s a huge accomplishment.’
‘Thanks, Jamie. Maybe you’ll be a Prefect one day, too!’
‘Me as a Prefect? I’d be docking myself House Points all day.’
Penny put on a mischievous grin. ‘You could use your authority to skirt around the rules…’
‘Brilliant idea, Penny!’
Bill started to get a little uncomfortable. ‘I didn’t hear that! Do I have to cast Quietus on you two?’
‘Can you help us, Bill? In Herbology Class, a Boggart attacked Penny,’ Jamie quickly changed the subject. ‘It took the form of a werewolf, which I’m guessing is her worst fear. Right Penny?’
‘I don’t know why it looked like that…’ Penny said, but again without much conviction.
‘Professor Sprout got rid of the Boggart, but she said he’s never seen one in the greenhouses. I wonder if it has anything to do with the Cursed Vaults…’
Bill stroked his chin in thought. ‘Hagrid is always caring for terrifying creatures. You should ask him what he knows about Boggarts… Let me know what—HEY! You first-years! Stop doing that to the custard tarts!’ Bill moved to a couple of students to scold them, leaving his two friends in laughter.
Getting to Potions Class that evening and sitting down, Jamie raised his head when he heard an all-too familiar voice speaking to him. ‘Welcome back to Hogwarts, Smith. How did it feel to be publicly humiliated by Dumbledore at the feast?’
Turning around, he saw Merula Snyde and other two Slytherins behind her, a well-built boy and a creepy looking girl. ‘Can we not start our third year in another argument?’
‘Of course. And don’t worry about Dumbledore and the Cursed Vaults. I’ll open them all before you ever have a chance to find them. With the help of my new associates Barnaby and Ismelda here, all of the fortune and glory in the vaults will be mine.’
‘All right, you insufferable lot. Take your seats, heat up your cauldrons, and try not to ruin another lesson,’ Snape ordered them. He seemed extremely angry, angrier than usual, though he did not express this anger on anyone in particular during the lesson.
When the class ended and he was packing his things in his bag, he heard Merula’s gang talking about the vaults. ‘What do you think is inside the next Cursed Vault?’ was asking Barnaby to the other two.
‘I hope it’s something that can bring back the Dark Lord,’ said Ismelda in a hopeful voice.
‘Maybe it’s something that can bring back Smith’s brother…’ Merula commented in a mocking tone, making sure that Jamie heard her. ‘On second thought, no one cares about that loser…’
‘I’d shut your mouth unless you want to duel again, Merula. We all know how well that’s worked for you in the past…’ Jamie matched her tone.
The witch got furious at the memory. ‘You got lucky, Smith. Next time we duel, you’ll be begging for mercy.’
‘Didn’t you beg a bit when James Smith beat you? I remember you crying, but I could’ve sworn you begged a bit too…’ Barnaby asked, genuinely confused.
Merula stared daggers at him. ‘Shut up, Barnaby. Let’s go. This loser isn’t worth our time.’
Ismelda and Merula left the classroom, but Barnaby stayed one more moment. ‘If you mess with Merula, I’ll vanish all the bones in your body,’ he threatened.
‘Why are you friends with her? She’s terrible to everyone.’
‘If what’s inside the vaults will make me stronger, then I want it. Merula is the most cunning witch at Hogwarts. The only way I’ll ever get into the vaults is to do exactly what she says.’
‘Let me guess, she told you that.’
‘Yeah.’
‘This Barnaby isn’t the brightest,’ thought Jamie. ‘Did you ever think that she might be lying to manipulate you?’
Barnaby thought about it for a few seconds, with an oddly intense look of concentration on his face. ‘Don’t you try to make me think, Smith!’ he snapped, and stormed off after his two accomplices.
‘What a strange boy…’ muttered Jamie.
Rowan turned to him. ‘Barnaby is one of the strongest wizards in our year, but he’s thicker than a troll…’
Jamie scoffed. ‘Even a troll would know to never trust Merula. Come on, we’d better get going to our next class.’
Their first day of classes came to an end, and Jamie and Rowan returned to their common room like the rest of their house. In the Slytherin Common Room, a very irate Snape stood in the centre, waiting to have everyone around him for some announcement. ‘Perhaps now we’ll know why he was so angry earlier…’ Jamie thought.
Someone tapped him on the shoulder, and at the corner of his field of vision he saw Felix whisper into his ear, ‘Whatever happens, just keep your mouth shut.’
Jamie frowned. He looked around the other students, and they all seemed as gloomy as the Prefect, with one key exception. Merula glanced from time to time at Jamie, almost as if she expected Snape to finally expel him, if not something worse. He ignored Merula’s look, instead focusing on his Head of House, who was sweeping the room with his gaze. ‘I will not tolerate bullying by any student in this house,’ Snape stated coldly. Puzzled frowns adorned everyone’s features, a mix of not knowing exactly what he was talking about, and not understanding how Snape of all people would recriminate their bullying. ‘Last year, one of you knocked those Gryffindors into the fountain…’ Snape continued. ‘A confession will save your fellow Slytherins from serious punishment.’
Suddenly, almost everyone understood. They had been caught, not by Snape, but by someone else. And everyone knew who had done it, but silence ruled the room for a moment while no one said anything. Jamie could see smirks forming in Merula and Ismelda’s faces, about to reveal him to Snape. But he was damned if he let them have the pleasure.
‘It was me, Professor’ Jamie said calmly, raising a hand. ‘This was all my idea.’ Everyone turned to look at him, some shocked, others confused as to why he would turn himself in. Felix kept a stoic face, impossible to read. Rowan squirmed behind Jamie, worried for his friend.
Snape looked at Jamie, narrowing his eyes. ‘I see you are still an embarrassment for Slytherin, Smith.’ Jamie bit his tongue, deeply offended at the comment. Snape went on, ‘However, for your honesty, I will not take any House Points.’ Addressing the room at large, he said, ‘Smith’s confession has saved you from losing House Points, but the list of possible punishments for bullying is long and severe. I will give you the opportunity to avoid further punishment this one time by locating a misplaced vail in the Potions Classroom. Do not fail me. And do not make me return to this room for a lecture ever again…’
Jamie, who had confessed to the crime, went to the cold classroom, accompanied by Rowan and Felix, the former because he didn’t want to leave his friend behind on this, and the latter to watch the other two. Snape barely looked at them when they entered the room, saying, ‘Find the vial quickly, and do not disturb anything in my classroom.’
Rowan said, ‘I probably shouldn’t be asking this, but you know your own classroom better than anyone, why don’t you just look for it yours-?’
Rowan didn’t finish his sentence, as Jamie had elbowed him, muttering, ‘Shut up, Rowan…’
‘You took the words out of my mouth, Smith,’ Snape said in a detached tone.
It didn’t take them too long to find the missing vial, probably because this punishment was Snape’s way of letting them off the hook without an actual punishment, as he often did favour his own house over the rest to absurd levels. Jamie found the vial on the ground, in a corner of the classroom, under a thick layer of dust, and recognised it from Snape’s description. ‘I found it!’ he said, wiping the dust off with his robe and handing the item to his professor.
‘Congratulations,’ Snape said sarcastically. ‘You may live to see another day.’
‘What’s in the vial, Professor Snape?’ Rowan quickly asked, before Jamie gave him a warning look. ‘Right,’ Rowan muttered. ‘Shut up, Rowan.’
'Hey, Penny. Are you feeling better?' Jamie asked his blonde friend during dinner.
'I'll admit that I was a little shaken after seeing that werewolf Boggart in Herbology, but I'm better now. I know it wasn't real,’ Penny said with a smile that Jamie didn't buy.
'Do you want to talk about it?'
'I'd rather talk about you!’ she said excitedly, changing the subject. ‘All of Hogwarts is talking about you after what happened with the Cursed Vaults. Do you like having so much attention?' Penny asked with a huge smile.
'Honestly, I'm getting tired of it. Never liked it in the first place, and I've not changed my mind,' said Jamie.
'Come on... You deserve it, Jamie. I can't imagine what Hogwarts would be without you. There's so much to catch up on. Can we talk over a meal?'
His friend's enthusiasm was almost contagious, and Jamie replied with a smile, 'Of course. What would you like to talk about?'
'With all we've been through at Hogwarts, we should get to know each other better. Don't you think so?'
While they had dinner, they talked about their respective lives back home. 'So, you're a half-blood witch from London, and you have a little sister-' Jamie started summarizing.
'Beatrice is her name!'
'Beatrice, right. It seems I'm learning more about you than you are about me,' Jamie said with a smirk.
Penny suddenly got a serious look on her face. 'Do you trust me, Jamie?'
'Of course...' said Jamie, confused.
'I need you to do me a favour, but I can't say exactly what just yet. Wait for my owl...'
The owl arrived two days later. Penny's message said to meet her after curfew in the Potions Classroom. Walking quickly through the cold corridors, Jamie saw her leaned against a wall near the classroom. 'Penny! What are we doing down here so late?' he whispered when he reached her.
'Shh! That Prefect will hear you,' she put a finger to her lips, pointing with the other hand to a Ravenclaw seventh year who was with his back turned to them. 'You learned Petrificus Totalus, right? Now it's time to put that spell to good use.'
'On a Prefect?' Jamie questioned. Not that he was opposed to the idea per say, but Penny's demeanour wasn't normal.
'Cast it! Before he sees us!'
Sighing, he took out his wand, and pointed it at the Prefect. 'Petrificus Totalus!' The Prefect fell to the ground, stiff as a board.
Penny clapped her hands. 'Brilliant! Now let's hurry into the Potions Classroom, so we can start the next part of my plan.' She entered the classroom, stepping carefully over the frozen Prefect.
'Plan? What plan?! You never said anything about a plan!'
Running inside as well, Jamie kept asking questions. 'Penny! What in the world is going on?'
'I need you to help steal some lethe river water from Potions,' Penny replied casually.
'We're stealing from Snape now?! I literally can't imagine a worse person to steal from.'
'Please, Jamie. I wouldn't take it if it wasn't important.'
Looking into her blue eyes, Jamie gave in. '...Okay. I'll help you.'
'Let's check all of these containers...'
'Aha! Lethe river water. You found it!' Penny said, looking at the flask Jamie was holding.
'But what do you need it for?'
Penny shrugged. 'Brewing a potion, obviously.'
'What potion?' Jamie pressed.
'All I can tell you is I need you to bring me the valerian springs you grew in Herbology. Once I've made the final preparations, I'll send you an owl.'
A few days later, Jamie entered the Artefact Room. Penny smiled when she saw him. 'Good, you're here. I was about to ask Peeves to look for you.'
Looking at the ingredients she had layed out around a cauldron on the floor, Jamie started muttering, 'Lethe river water, two valerian springs, two measures of Standard Ingredient, and four mistletoe berries...'
Penny looked at him, concerned. 'Do you know what potion we're making?'
'Forgetfulness Potion, I'd say,' Jamie guessed, trying his hardest to remember his Potions theory.
Penny nodded. 'Precisely. I need you to help me brew a perfect Forgetfulness Potion.'
'To erase part of someone's memory? Who are you going to use it on?' Jamie asked, worried about every possible answer.
'Don't worry, I won't use it on you. Not that you'd remember if I did. Let's get started. I'll walk you through it...'
After a couple of hours of careful preparation, Penny took a phial of the liquid in the cauldron, and examined it up close. 'Good work, Jamie. This Forgetfulness Potion is perfect.'
'Will you finally tell me what you're doing with it?'
'I'm going to drink it.'
Jamie's eyes widened. 'Why?!'
Penny stared at the potion in the phial as she answered, eyes teary. 'Remember how my Boggart took the form of a werewolf? It wasn't just any werewolf... Every summer my family spends time in the country. I had a friend up there... a Muggle... Her name was Scarlett. Last year we went out for a walk one night and saw a werewolf. Scarlett was fascinated, and wanted to see where it was going. I had my wand... But when it noticed us, I froze. By the time I had the courage to do something, it was too late for Scarlett...' She burst into tears, unable to contain them any longer. 'She's dead because of me...' Jamie hugged his friend, trying his best to comfort her. She sobbed, continuing. 'It hurts to remember it, Jamie. I want to forget.'
'Do you think that's a good idea, Penny?'
'I'm... not sure what to think anymore...'
Pushing him away and ending the hug, she looked at the phial with the potion. '...should I drink the Forgetfulness Potion...?' she muttered.
'No!' Jamie put a hand to the bottle. 'Penny, forgetting won't change what happened. What if you forget more than you intend to? What if you forgot yourself?'
'Should that happen...?'
'Are you willing to take the risk?' Jamie asked. Penny stared at his hand, stopping her hand from drinking, then at him in the eyes. Jamie stared back, with a kind smile. 'Penny, our memories make us who we are. They make us stronger. Scarlett would want you to remember her.'
Penny looked away. 'Jamie... you're right.' Jamie took the potion from her hand, hiding it in his robes. Penny tried to smile at him. 'Thank you. I won't forget what you did for me.'
At the beginning of October, a parchment on the announcement board of every common room stated that the first weekend trip to Hogsmeade for third years and up would be on Hallowe’en; making most of the third years and older students buzz with excitement as the date got nearer. Jamie, who had spent a good deal of his summer convincing his mum to sign his permission slip, was one of those students, along with Rowan, who had read just about everything about Hogsmeade there was to read. Meanwhile, there were more sightings of Boggarts around the castle’s cupboards and closets, making most students travel in groups around the castle to confuse any Boggart they might encounter. With Bill’s words in mind, Jamie went down the grounds during one free period to Hagrid’s hut, intent on asking him about Boggarts. He knocked on the door to the wooden hut thrice, and heard barking from inside before the door was opened. ‘Get back, Fang…’ Hagrid said, pulling back an oversized boarhound puppy. ‘Jamie! Good to see you!’
‘How was your summer, Hagrid?’
‘It was fine, thanks fer askin’,’ said Hagrid, beckoning him to come in. ‘Raised a litter of Flobberworms in the hut, but now they’re full-grown…’ he said happily, pointing through a window at a strange makeshift wooden paddock just next to his pumpkin patch, inside of which a group of huge, brown slugs were squirming about. His face turned downcast, as he went on, ‘…An’ I don’ know what to do with ‘em!’
‘Why don’t you set them free?’ suggested Jamie. He would have normally suggested using them for potions, but he knew Hagrid too well to be so insensitive.
‘It’ll break me heart a bit, but I suppose that’s the best way…’ admitted Hagrid. ‘But enough abou’ me Flobberworm problems. Wha’ about yeh? Want some tea?’
‘Tea would be nice, thanks,’ said Jamie, and as Hagrid served them both tea on huge cups and they sat around the central table of the hut, Jamie told him about the Boggarts sightings around the school. ‘Bill Weasley thought you might know a bit about Boggarts.’
‘Boggarts?’ Hagrid shook his head. ‘I haven’ seen one o’ them for years… Not since…’
He seemed to remember he wasn’t supposed to tell, because he made a strange grunt right before sipping a lot of tea and looking anywhere in the cabin but Jamie. ‘Since when?’ pressed Jamie.
Hagrid sighed, and said, ‘Since yer brother was a student, an’ came askin’ about Boggarts an’ all.’
‘Why was my brother asking about Boggarts?’ Jamie asked quickly. ‘What did he say? What did you tell him?’
‘He thought the Boggarts had somethin’ teh do with the Cursed Vaults… He thought one of the vaults played on the fears of anyone who tried teh open it,’ Hagrid explained patiently. ‘If Boggarts are suddenly appearin’ here, it might mean someone’s bin messin’ with that vault.’
‘My brother must have done a lot of research on the vaults. Do you know where he kept his notes?’
‘Yer brother didn’ have a lot o’ friends at Hogwarts, but he spent a lotta time at the Three Broomsticks, in Hogsmeade. I ‘spect Madam Rosmerta might have an idea about those notes. If yeh ever make it teh Hogsmeade, I’d be happy teh introduce yeh.’
‘That would be brilliant, Hagrid!’ said Jamie, ecstatic. ‘The first trip is scheduled for Hallowe’en. I can’t wait!’
October passed by fairly quickly, even with the added weight of their new subjects and the increase in homework load of their old ones. Jamie had chosen to study Care of Magical Creatures, like Rowan, and Divination. Care of Magical Creatures was engaging, and Professor Kettleburn was so passionate about his job that his students usually shared his enthusiasm. Divination was fairly disappointing, as Professor Trelawney always spoke in a misty, drowsing voice and her classroom was usually dark and very warm, scented with many perfumes. When Hallowe’en arrived, the whole castle was buzzing with excitement. The halls and chambers of the castle (except the classrooms) were decorated with carved pumpkins, some the size of small cars, that Hagrid had grown in his garden. The weekend of the first trip to Hogsmeade, a long queue was made in the Entrance Hall, in front of the gates to the exterior, where Filch was checking the permission slips and letting people out little by little. Next to Filch was Snape, with a thin smile that gave almost every student shivers. Jamie and Rowan were waiting in line, chatting happily when Snape came over to them, and addressed Jamie.
‘Wipe that smug, confident expression off your face, Mr Smith. Just where do you think you’re going?’
‘To… Hogsmeade, Professor Snape,’ said Jamie tentatively, but with the confidence of someone who knows is innocent. ‘I have my permission slip right here.’
‘Permission slip?’ Snape’s lip curled upwards, and Jamie’s heart dropped, fearing the worst. ‘It is my pleasure to inform you that you are banned from Hogsmeade, even with your sad little permission slip.’
‘What?!’ Jamie snapped, mouth agape with horror. ‘That’s not fair! You can’t do that!’
‘With all of the school rules you have broken, you should feel fortunate that your lack of self-control hasn’t gotten you expelled,’ said Snape nastily. Jamie was about to reply “I saved Hogwarts”, but Snape raised a hand, stopping him. ‘You risked lives, and did nothing that Dumbledore couldn’t have accomplished during teatime.’
‘Please, Professor,’ Jamie begged. Lowering his voice so that only Snape and Rowan could hear him, he said, ‘Madam Rosmerta at the Three Broomsticks might know something about my brother and the vaults.’
‘You fool, listen to yourself,’ Snape said, and the thin smile vanished, a scowl replacing it. ‘You’re focused on these dangerous vaults instead of your schoolwork. If you want to earn Hogsmeade privileges, you will need to study diligently. Then, you may go to Hogsmeade.’
Jamie could feel outrage boiling in his insides. He had achieved top marks in almost everything, including Potions, on the previous terms; he didn’t see how he could do better. Biting his tongue, he forced himself to say, almost in a whisper, ‘…Yes, sir.’
Snape walked away, and Jamie could almost feel the looks of pity from his friends and some other students, and the leering faces Merula and her cronies were surely making at him. Rowan’s voice brought him back to reality. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll help you study. You’ll be going to Hogsmeade in no time.’
‘Thanks, Rowan,’ Jamie said sourly, though truly grateful at his friend. ‘But you go to Hogsmeade. I’ll just enjoy the feast here, and see you when you get back.’
Rowan shrugged, smiling at Jamie. ‘I don’t mind waiting a bit to get to Hogsmeade, you know. Do you want to go to the library to study for now?’
‘First, let’s get out of here,’ Jamie said, catching a glimpse of Merula making fun of him with Ismelda and Barnaby. They walked into the Great Hall, which was being decorated with the gigantic pumpkins and swarms of bats, and sat down to have lunch. ‘I don’t think studying now will do me much good,’ Jamie confided in Rowan. ‘Snape knows I got pretty much full marks, I just have to lay low for a while…’
Someone tapped Jamie on the shoulder, and he swivelled around on his seat to find Angelica Cole standing behind him. He frowned. ‘Angelica? You’re a Gryffindor Prefect, what are you doing here?’
‘I saw what happened with Snape back there,’ she said with a look of pity.
‘You and everyone else,’ Jamie snorted. ‘But why does that involve you?’
‘Snape was being unfair, you did save the school… And I’m betting you are looking into the Cursed Vaults again, aren’t you? I think I can help a bit,’ she said in a whisper.
‘How? Because unless you know a way of sneaking me into Hogsmeade… Or have you found something?’ Jamie asked, narrowing his eyes at Angelica.
Angelica shook her head. ‘I can’t find any information about the vaults at all. Just some rumours in the Daily Prophet.’
‘Yeah, I’ve probably heard them all,’ Jamie said, rolling his eyes. ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if Merula has some articles pinned to her headboard, just to laugh at me.’
‘But maybe I can get you in touch with someone who has heard more about the vaults than me,’ Angelica said. ‘And you can follow that lead while working on getting to Hogsmeade.’
‘Well, I suppose that could work…’ Rowan admitted. ‘It’d be worth looking into, at least.’
‘But why are you helping me?’ Jamie asked, a bit suspicious.
‘Look, I…’ she bit her lip, apparently considering how to put her thoughts into words. ‘Your brother Jacob was a troublemaker, but the truth is… I always liked him. He was wild, yes, but he was brave, too. Especially for a Slytherin. He did a lot to help me, so now I want to repay the favour to you by looking into the Cursed Vaults.’ Her face had darkened in a blush as she said this, but she remained upright.
‘Who is this person you are thinking of?’ asked Jamie, accepting her help.
‘Hold on, I’ll call him.’ She looked around the hall, and shouted, ‘Nick! Could you come here for a moment?’
A pearly white ghost floated their way elegantly, smiling at Angelica. ‘You asked for my assistance, Angelica?’ He looked at Jamie and Rowan, and introduced himself politely. ‘Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington at your service. Resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower.’
‘Nick is a good friend to have,’ Angelica said. ‘Even if his spectral translucence is more than a little unnerving.’
‘Nick? Like Nearly-Headless Nick?’ Jamie asked, right before regretting asking.
‘I prefer to be called Sir Nicholas,’ said Nick coldly, and in an impatient movement his head wobbled dangerously.
‘Sorry, Sir Nicholas,’ Jamie said sheepishly.
‘Rumours of the Cursed Vaults go back hundreds of years,’ Angelica said. ‘Do you remember anyone searching for them back then?’ she asked Nick.
Nick nodded, and his head wobbled slightly, but he held it in place with one hand, readjusting his ruff. ‘I’ve overheard occasional chatter over the centuries from those who sought the vaults.’
‘Really? Who?’ asked Jamie eagerly.
‘It’s all a bit fuzzy… I’ve met so many interesting individuals over the centuries, both living and deceased! But I seem to recall there was an old Charms professor by the name of Fortinbras. She would talk sometimes about the vaults.’
‘Then I should search the Charms classroom for clues,’ Jamie said.
‘Maybe we could ask Flitwick if he knows something,’ Rowan said. ‘Saying it’s for research purposes, of course…’
‘Do not fear, my young Slytherins! We will investigate together!’ proclaimed Nick. Angelica left them to go to Hogsmeade, while the two students quickly finished their lunch and went up to the Charms corridor.
The Charms classroom was deserted when they arrived; and Nick noted, ‘I’m certain that old teacher left some ancient books in here somewhere…’
‘Do you think they have clues to the locations of the Cursed Vaults?’ asked Jamie.
‘Locations, formations, calculations… It’s hard to remember. My brain decomposed five centuries ago, you know.’
‘Well, I’ll check the desks. Rowan, you look through those piles of books…’
‘And I’ll offer ghostly encouragement! My enthusiasm is alive and well!’ said Nick, while the two students got to work.
The desks didn’t have much of interest, but Rowan did find something after a while of reading through piles of books, one of which being the pile on which Professor Flitwick stood for their lessons. ‘I found something! It has Fortinbras’ name!’
‘The folio of Fortinbras!’ Nick said. ‘Well done indeed!’
‘The ink on most of these pages has worn away over time…’ Jamie noted, reading through some of the pages of the ancient book.
‘Good thing that doesn’t happen to ghosts!’ Nick said.
‘Wait! Here’s something…’ Rowan said, pointing at a barely legible page. ‘“It is my belief that a great power is sealed inside of Hogwarts, but what sort of power, I do not know… Riches? Magic? An instrument of hope or death? I cannot say. A group of teachers and students alike formed a circle of trust. I fashioned an artefact to seal the identity of my closest co-conspirator.” I can’t read the next paragraph, it’s too faded… Ah! A few pages later, she says “Bartholomew is the new Potions Master. We will find the vaults ourselves. He is the only one I trust. Bartholomew sought to learn who built the vaults, and why. His beaker holds the key.”’
‘Of course! That old Potions professor. He was always going on about the vaults as well.’
‘Can we ask him what he knows?’ asked Rowan.
‘Certainly not! He’s been dead hundreds of years. And not the turned-into-a-ghost kind of dead, either.’
‘Then we have to find his beaker,’ Jamie said. ‘But what if Snape is there? He can’t catch me sneaking into his office or his classroom now! I’ll lose Hogsmeade privileges for good!’
‘I can distract him for you,’ offered Rowan. ‘I have four notebooks with Snape-related questions, I can keep him engaged while you search the classroom.’
‘What if it’s in his office?’ asked Jamie.
‘Then we’ll have to think of something else.’
While Rowan went to Snape’s office with the pretext of asking questions about an essay they had to deliver in a week, Jamie and Nick entered the empty Potions classroom, and quickly got to work. With Nick floating inside the shelves, it didn’t take long for the ghost to say, ‘It’s here, James! It has Bartolomew’s name!’
Jamie grabbed the dusty beaker at the back of a stone cupboard, noticing that it had a parchment roll inside. ‘This one?’
‘That is it! I’m certain. The Beaker of Bartholomew.’
‘His name is engraved on the glass.’ Jamie took out the parchment, unrolling it and scoffing at the writing. ‘Runes! Pity Rowan isn’t here to decipher them…’
‘I can read ancient runes,’ said Nick, reading over Jamie’s shoulder. ‘“Through tireless toil, I have studied our predecessors, and solved one of the greatest Hogwarts mysteries. Some wanted to keep us safe from the world; some wanted the world safe from us. Some wanted to amass power inside the school, no matter the danger. Some had the plan to keep that power in the right hands.”’
‘Is he talking about something inside the vaults?’
The door creaked open, and Jamie had just enough time to hide the parchment inside his robes before Filch came into the classroom, scowling at him. ‘What’s going on in here? Up to mischief, you and this dead ninny?’
Mrs Norris, next to Filch, hissed at them. Nick looked outraged. ‘I will not float here and be demeaned! I was a knighted courtier in the royal court of King Henry VII!’
‘You shouldn’t be messin’ about the Potions classroom when Professor Snape isn’t here,’ growled Filch, looking at Jamie with a nasty glance. ‘I’ll have to report this.’
‘I am supervising this child and will have none of your idle threats, you low-class bully!’ yelled Sir Nicholas. ‘Begone now!’
Filch grumbled something, staring daggers at the ghost, but Nick continued. ‘And I insist you give this child ten house points as way of apology.’
‘Fine!’ bellowed Filch, and Mrs Norris hissed again. ‘Ten points to… Slytherin.’
The caretaker and his grumpy cat turned around and left the room, mumbling something about misbehaving ghosts and punishments. Jamie wasted no more time, taking out the parchment and unrolling it again. ‘Quick, what do the rest of the runes say?’
‘“Each common room hides a house sigil. Only a student who is true to their house can find their sigil.” That’s all it says.’
‘So I’m only going to be able to find the Slytherin sigil…’ muttered Jamie. ‘At least, on my own.’
‘Quite right, but you may be able to learn much from your sigil alone…’
Very few students were left in the common room when Jamie and Rowan entered it, after Jamie had gone to retrieve Rowan from Snape’s office. Almost everyone past the second year was in Hogsmeade. Shortly after they arrived, Sir Nicholas came in through a wall, and joined them. ‘I say, the Slytherin Common Room!’ he said in awe, looking around. ‘The Bloody Baron has frightened many a young Slytherin in here…’
‘We have to find the house sigil. Where should we begin?’ said Jamie.
‘My ghostly intuition tells me it will be well concealed, some place it should be untouched for a thousand years or more.’
‘There could be hidden spaces in the walls or behind the floor…’ Rowan mused. ‘We can’t search every brick, but… Nick, do you think you could float around inside the walls and floor? And the ceiling too.’
‘Certainly!’ said Nick pompously, vanishing under the carpet.
They waited a few minutes, but at last Nick reappeared and beckoned at them. ‘James! Rowan! Over here! Take a look.’
‘This piece of the floor is loose…’ Jamie noted, stepping lightly over a floor tile.
‘Pry it up,’ said Rowan.
‘Wingardium Leviosa!’ muttered Jamie, taking out his wand and swishing it at the small tile. It rose slightly and cleanly, revealing a carved circular symbol on the stone beneath, with the Slytherin crest in the middle and words around the crest and circle.
‘We found it! The Slytherin sigil!’ Rowan said in an excited whisper. ‘It says “I cannot resist the power, though it may kill us all. I am the only one I trust to wield it and not succumb.”’
‘Who could have written this?’ wondered Jamie, carefully putting back the floor tile on its place.
‘This is even more intriguing than the Headless Hunt!’
‘I wonder what the other sigils say…’ Jamie mused.
‘Students, teachers and ghosts alike get turned around in Hogwarts,’ Nick pointed out. ‘New rooms are discovered all the time. Allow me to ruminate on what we’ve learned. I shall meet you during the Hallowe’en feast to discuss our findings.’
The Hallowe’en feast arrived, and Jamie and Rowan enjoyed the sweets that had been laid in the golden plates, and even some black cauldrons, while they talked about their findings. ‘At least we know why they were made,’ Jamie said. ‘And they’re probably sealing something dangerous…’
‘But what could be so dangerous to go through all that trouble?’ wondered Rowan.
Jamie shrugged, but before he could offer any ideas he saw Sir Nicholas floating their way hurriedly, and pointed at him with his head to warn Rowan. ‘Nick! Did you work something out?’
‘Ah, yes!’ said Nick happily. ‘I’ve been thinking about what we found in the Slytherin Common Room. Hogwarts was always meant to be a safe place. But being a safe place, Hogwarts had a responsibility to protect dangerous things… Thereby, making Hogwarts less safe… Later headmasters and professors recognised this… Is it possible someone took advantage of the way the floorplan of the school appears to shift over time? We believe the vaults were built to hold something dangerous that could be placed inside… but what if the vaults were built around something dangerous that could not be moved?’
‘Then it’s something extremely dangerous…’ Rowan concluded, somewhat darkly.
‘I wonder how much my brother knew about this…’
‘I am confident that a curious student like yourself is destined to find out!’ Nick said. Looking at the High Table, near which many ghosts were reuniting, he said, ‘Oh, dear! The ghostly performance is going to start! I must leave now, but if ever you need the help of a courageous ghost again, call on me again!’
‘We could try to find the other house sigils,’ Rowan said, while they watched the ghosts perform an undead dance for the students and staff. ‘We could get Penny to help with the Hufflepuff one… And I’m sure Bill Weasley could find the Gryffindor one in no time!’
‘That still leaves Ravenclaw, though,’ said Jamie. ‘I’m not sure it matters much, I doubt the other seals hold more information than our own. I think I better focus for now on trying to impress Snape to get to Hogsmeade, and work from there.’