ENIGMA

Plot, new characters, new magical terms and abilities etc. are my intellectual property. If you want to borrow then please kindly ask. JK Rowling's characters and Wizarding Universe are all uniquely hers.

Summary: AU: What if everything we ever read in JK Rowling’s books was real – including the people characterised? What would you do if you found yourself caught up in that reality knowing what was to come? SS, CD, OC

Authors Note: It has been mentioned in the story but now I am noting it here. I am a fan of Diana Gabaldon’s ‘Outlander’/’Cross Stitch’ series and definitely was influenced by that in writing this story – i.e. the Standing Stones and traveling through time. But I also love Philip Pullman’s ‘His Dark Materials’ series and the tv programme ‘Sliders’ and the alternate universes alongside ours idea comes from there no doubt.

Fantasy/Drama

This story is rated R/M.

ENIGMA

Chapter 029: Perception & Understanding

A day that Jessica had particularly dreaded was upon them. It was Halloween and the delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang were due to arrive around dinnertime. All she’d heard was no end of stories about both schools and their practices, much of it highly dubious indeed. Increasingly she was becoming very dissatisfied with her work. It wasn’t surprising, given how much she had loathed anything that wasn’t creative in her own world.

She was strolling through the grounds only half-listening as Harry, Ron and Hermione nattered away as they walked with her. The Boy Who Lived was on speaking terms with her again, and she knew that Hermione had everything to do with. Hogwarts’ resident know-it-all did have a flair for pointing out the obvious to Harry, even if he didn’t always take her advice or get the strong hints. Sometimes he just didn’t think as he ought and it brought him nothing but trouble.

Jessica held back a snort – that certainly applied to her and in more ways than one.

They reached Hagrid’s hut and he called them in for tea and his special rock biscuits.

‘Aren’t you worried?’ Hermione asked her after they had taken their seats.

‘What?’

‘I said, aren’t you worried?’ Hermione repeated. ‘Draco Malfoy wants to blame you for the way his father’s treated people over the years.’

‘My situation is my situation. The rest of it has nothing to do with me…’

‘Maybe, but I don’t think that all the rest would have gone to Dumbledore and Minister Umbridge if it hadn’t been for what happened with you…’ Ron suggested. ‘Even Mum thinks so…’

‘Look – I had no idea Professor McGonagall was even in the Library, let alone three Ravenclaws and a Hufflepuff!’ Jessica snapped. ‘I know Draco is carrying tales that I somehow was so clever that I set his father up, but it didn’t happen like that! For God’s sake, if I had realised anyone was there I would have called time! But I wasn’t prepared to go up to my office alone with him. I’d have to be barking mad to do that!’

‘We all know what Lucius Malfoy is like, see?’ Hagrid said as he set out cups and saucers for each of them. ‘But it’s always been whispered about. Not too many dare come out against him. If yeh ask me they’re more afraid of what they think he can do more than they are of what he’s actually capable of doing. Don’t get me wrong though, he is a nasty character! Some o’ the folks he’s dealt with in Knockturn Alley could tell you things.’

‘Like Borgin at Borgin and Burke’s. I heard it for myself about all the Dark Arts crap that he’s tried to get rid of from his Manor!’ Harry said angrily. ‘Anyway, Draco pretty much admitted to us that his father was one of them at the Cup. What kind of man is he that even his own son knows what a monster he is and then struts around when all that crap is going on like it’s something to be proud of?’

‘The kind of man that would come here and try to play nice about the fact that I’ve called out his son for being so stupid to admit it…’ Jessica said bitterly. ‘He acted like it was some social call when it was anything but. Draco is over-indulged by the wife apparently and that’s why he’s the pretender to his father’s throne… Right! He ended it by telling me I need to keep my mouth shut basically. That my “directness could be misunderstood” of course the caveat was “…and we wouldn’t want that, now would we?”’

‘My parents aren’t fooled for a minute,’ Ron said vehemently. ‘Dad says that the Malfoys can say all they want, but he knows who the real disgrace to the name of wizard is! If You-Know-Who comes back – one guess as to who’ll be celebrating!’

‘Your father would do – as many times as Malfoy has interfered with his department and with his job! Lucius has had old Fudge in his pockets for too long,’ said Hagrid. ‘Believe you me – he may not have too many allies here at Hogwarts, but he’s got plenty of them at the Ministry. All bidin’ their time like yeh see? One clear sign of You-Know-Who and the battle lines would be drawn!’

‘Dad said that in the last war, You-Know-Who had spies everywhere!’ Ron said in a hushed voice.

‘Yeuh! That he did – and they didn’t come any bigger than Lucius Malfoy believe you me. You-Know-Who couldn’t have gotten as much power as he did and they way he did without old Lucius financing it and doing quite a bit of the dirty work himself; him, the Lestranges and Blacks. All that business about being under the Imperius Curse! Load o’ codswallop and everybody with sense knows it! Why – even Moody himself could tell Draco some things about his father that would curl his hair!’

‘Professor Moody did say just that last week, after he turned young Draco into a ferret,’ Jessica said casually.

‘Nobody’s ever been able to prove it though. I mean, I don’t doubt that Lucius Malfoy is capable of incredible cruelty, especially not after the Cup,’ Hermione said. ‘But too many of the wrong people protect him. And he’s very good at hiding his tracks to a degree. I don’t understand it, all they’d have to do is listen to some of the Slytherins talk… I mean for Merlin’s sake, talk about being indiscreet; I can’t believe some of the things that come out of their mouths!’

‘But that’s exactly my point, Hermione,’ Jessica said carefully, as she thought over events from Books 5 and 6. ‘Nothing will cause more problems for Draco Malfoy than that damnable arrogance and big mouth that he has. And his parents must suffer from the same affliction if so many people know their business. All this gossip even in Knockturn Alley – they must have a serious Death Wish. Nobody’s luck can hold out for that long if so many people know their secrets.’

‘But those people probably have just as much to hide,’ Hermione said knowingly.

‘I agree – and that’s what a lot of it came down to over the years. It’s like the Nazis in World War Two in the Muggle World… well, like every war really when there is so much complicitness.’

‘My parent’s have told me about it,’ Hermione said quietly. ‘They lost a lot of family members in the camps…’

Jessica reached over and squeezed the Gryffindor’s hands as the warning bell sounded for last of their classes for the day. The students only had two classes after lunch and then all were expected to prepare for the arrival of the foreigners. McGonagall expected them to be nothing less than immaculate.

‘We better go – we’ll have to leg it as it is,’ Harry said as he rose.

‘Are you coming back with us?’ Ron asked Jessica.

‘Nah – the Library’s closed and I might as well make the most of having a blessed afternoon off from you lot!’

‘Oh – but I wanted to…’ Hermione began.

‘Sinistra’s essay can wait,’ Jessica said firmly. ‘You’ve got two whole weeks and knowing you it’s probably almost finished. You don’t need any more books that I’ve given you already.’

‘Come on, get moving,’ Harry said as he bounded out the door.

Hagrid watched for a moment as they ran up the steep hill to the castle and then close the door.

‘Well, I’ve been wantin’ ter have a wee word with yeh, like. Just with all the excitement there hasn’t been much time…’ Hagrid said carefully.

‘Sounds serious…’ Jessica replied as the gentle giant handed her another cup of tea.

‘I been concerned, you know, since that whole thing with Malfoy kicked off. Nobody with sense blames you…’

‘Hagrid, I honestly didn’t know that he and I weren’t alone. It was dead quiet in there. Rainy days are the only time I have any semblance of peace… Same as quite a few people it seems.’

‘Take it as confirmation of just how much of a difference yeh’ve made. I’ve not known too many of them in yer club there to take work so serious-like before. Yeh’ve done that, no one else. Oh, we have some good teachers and all, but a lot o’ them treat it like it’s just a job, yeh know? Yeh make ‘em take pride in themselves and try harder. Take young Hector Peterson, why the changes in him are amazing and I know for a fact that his Head of House is grateful to yeh for it!’

‘Well – Professor Flitwick is a bit biased I think. But I suppose I am in the right house, all things considered.’

‘Many of them think very highly of you, make no mistake!

‘Oh come on, plenty of their teachers and the Heads do what they can; I’m certainly nothing special to the Ravens, trust me.’

‘Codswallop! Now you look at Cho Chang – for as long as that girl has been here I’ve never known her to take to a teacher the way she has you!’

‘She what? Hagrid, I’m not being funny, she doesn’t really like me or want me around… She cant stand me!’

‘Now that is definitely all in yer head, young lady! Why, she went before Dumbledore and the committee of governors that were left herself about what she saw! Wouldn’t hear a bad word said against you by that Umbridge woman from the Ministry. That Umbridge; boy is she another one! Can smile to yer face while she’s preparing to hit yeh with an Unforgivable and mean it!’

‘Cho Chang – defended – me; and to Minister Umbridge?!’’

‘Yeuh! That she did indeed! Oh that simp Edgecombe tried to talk her out of from what Cho said. But she stood her ground, she did!

‘Mariette Edgecombe is a sneak – a hardcore, shyte-stirring sneak… I wouldn’t put anything past her especially to save her own neck.’

‘And don’t yeh forget it!’

Jessica fell silent, trying not to think about how much she seriously disliked Cho and only because of what she knew from fiction – and the unmistakable fact that the Ravenclaw Seeker was attracted to Cedric. However, the Librarian also knew that Marietta seemed to take it as almost a personal affront that Cedric didn’t return Cho’s interest and the sneak also didn’t like Jessica at all. If Marietta could see her gone from Ravenclaw she’d be too happy.

She looked up, and noticed that Hagrid’s cheeks were slightly pink.

‘And what are you blushing for?’ she asked innocently.

‘I can think of quite of few of the lads, erm young men, that would miss yeh if yeh ever left…’

‘Mmm…they’d miss me practically doing their homework for them.’

‘Since when does Cedric Diggory need that much help with his homework?’

Jessica nearly spat out her tea as she coughed. Hagrid started to pat her on the back, but realised he would probably break a bone and instead just tapped her with his pinky.

‘Ta Hagrid,’ Jessica said with watering eyes. ‘I s..swallowed the wrong way…’

‘Yeuh – that Cedric has turned out to be quite the young man. Never seen one with so much promise. And he’s so down-to-earth about it all. Yeh’d never know he was as gifted as he is. Now that’s one that Draco Malfoy could learn from, yes he could.’

‘I wouldn’t know,’ Jessica said airily. ‘He comes to me for help now and then like everyone else…’

Hagrid walked over to the door, opened it and looked out. Satisfied that they were still well and truly alone he closed it again.

‘I think Severus is still very fond of yeh, Jessica. In fact, I would say he’s in danger of falling very hard for yeh all over again!’

‘Severus? Impossible! He doesn’t open his mouth except to…’

‘Warn yeh! Protect yeh! Jessica, have yeh no idea the lengths that man has gone to for yeh. He just wanted to try and correct Dumbledore’s mistakes with yeh, yeh know?’

‘Hagrid, I can assure you I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about. Severus doesn’t say anything to me unless it’s to criticise!’

‘Listen to me! I know his methods aren’t exactly… well… right… But I know as sure as I’m standing here that he’s never gotten over yeh or what happened. He is in pain and it’s not getting better!

‘What did the Headmaster do that was so wrong?’

‘He interfered where he ought not to have done! Instead of keeping certain people from yeh, it lead ‘em right to yeh!’

The Librarian’s eyes went wide.

‘Lucius Malfoy,’ she said slowly.

‘Yeuh,’ the giant said with a nod. ‘Severus has been worried sick! This thing with Lucius – he’s fascinated by you in ways he shouldn’t be and it’s dangerous! Now that yer in with the McKenzies – well, that’s thrown him, and bizarrely enough made yeh all the more interestin’ to him!’

‘But it’s not himself he’s thinking about, is it? It’s You-Know-Who…’ Jessica said slowly as the realization dawned on her.

Hagrid nodded his agreement sombrely.

‘As sure as I’m sitting here; that man is gearing up for something. That nonsense at the Cup was only the start. Severus isn’t stupid, he’s seein’ the signs already and so is Dumbledore, mark me words.’

‘I can’t believe it!’

‘You-Know-Who is surely coming back! I’ve always said he was just too mean and evil to die! Nope – I always reckoned that he was out there somewhere just waiting. And so has Dumbledore and Severus!’

‘I’ve said I’ll stand by you when the time comes…’

‘I know yeh have, lass and no one can ever begrudge yeh fer it. But listen to me, the role yeh have to play may end up being much more than yeh want to see at the moment.’

‘How? Why? I mean – this is all about Harry really…’

‘We’ve all got our parts to play. But…’

Hagrid fell into a frustrated silence.

‘But thanks to the Headmaster mine isn’t going to be as simple as sitting around making the Order tea and crumpets and being a shoulder to cry on, that’s it; isn’t it?’

‘I know Lucius Malfoy, Jessica. Just like I knew his Master! Yeuh – Tom Riddle was a schoolmate of mine, the Tom Riddle who became Lord… You-Know-Who. He was calling himself Lord… whatsis even when he were here! I’ve known Lucius since he were a Hogwarts student and all. He’s a chop off his father’s block! Bad blood them Malfoys got! I know all too well what people like them are capable of ‘cause I’ve seen it first hand with me own two eyes I have! Lucius doesn’t give a stuff’ about the fact that you spoke to Draco like you did, you think he don’t owl the same things to the boy about ten times a week? You have a mighty fine brain there and most of wizards fail at logic. Someone like yeh, like Severus before yeh, would a great asset to whichever side yeh fought fer. Do yeh see? Do yeh see now why Severus is so worried fer yeh?’

‘Oh. My. God! I could end up…’

‘Even against yer will; yes yeh most certainly could! Dumbledore; he didn’t mean fer it to happen, honestly he didn’t!’

‘And yet it wouldn’t stop him from using it to his advantage, now would it?’

‘Yeh make it sound like…’

‘There I go – I need to curb my enthusiasm for speaking so plainly.’

‘Well – yeuh; yeh should definitely. Yer not trained up like us, yeh can’t protect yerself like we can, not yet. Even I’m at risk without a wand…’

‘You don’t have a wand? But all wizards have wands, don’t they?’ she muttered quietly as she stared into her teacup.

Hagrid told Jessica the story of how his wand had come to be snapped in two because of false accusations against him pressed by one Tom Riddle during their days as students together at Hogwarts. Riddle had unleashed a monstrous Basilisk on the school and there were deaths because of it. Hagrid got the blame because of his affection for magical creatures, quite deadly magical creatures. He’d been keeping a baby of a giant spider hidden, mainly to protect it until it was able to leave and survive on its own. Riddle twisted things around and fabricated ‘proof’ that causes Hagrid to be sent down before the Ministry. His wand was snapped and he was banned from furthering his education at Hogwarts and from practicing magic. Dumbledore, who had been Headmaster at the time, took him on in his current position. There was no place else Hagrid could have gone even if he’d wanted to. His parents were no longer alive by then.

‘That’s outrageous,’ Jessica said carefully because she did already know much of the story from what she’d read, ‘But Hagrid, since everyone knows that you’re innocent now, why are you still banned from studying or practicing magic?’

The gentle giant looked at her mournfully. ‘I never thought about it to be honest…’

‘Professor Dumbledore is on the Wizengamot. He kept Severus out of Azkaban, although in his debt… Surely he could do something for you too?’

‘Nah – best to forget about it… pointless.’

‘Nothing worth having is ever pointless – especially when it comes to who you are. You’re a wizard, Hagrid, and you deserve to not have to sneak around with that dodgy pink umbrella!’

‘Um…umbrella? How did you know about that?’ Hagrid sputtered in shock.

‘Erm – you’ve used it a few times in front of me,’ Jessica lied, hoping that she looked and sounded convincing.

‘Oh, yeuh, yeuh I did, didn’t I? Night you first came to us, I think…was chuckin’ it down there if I ‘member correctly.’

‘Yes, that was the first time if I’m thinking straight. It’s nothing to worry about, I won’t breathe a word.

‘Yeh really think I should petition the Ministry and all?’

‘Well – try to bring it up casually with the Headmaster. See what he says. You might ask Severus; he tends to have his finger on the pulse of things like this. If you don’t, then perhaps we should sort out something less awkward than that umbrella – or getting you a new wand from abroad…’

‘You sure that Hat didn’t put you in the wrong House?’

‘Must have been all that Slytherin shagging with Severus…’

‘Jessica!’ Hagrid roared as she stood up.

She needed to get back to her rooms and get ready to meet and greet their guests for the rest of the school year. That would no doubt be as mind-blowing as everything else so far.

‘Will yeh give a chance to prove himself to yeh? He knows he’s made mistakes an’…’

‘…and he wouldn’t want you to be fighting his corner over a failed romance.’

‘No, perhaps not. But someone has to. Yeh need each other, Jessica. I know he was wrong actin’ like he did when the yeh lost the wee one. He didn’t know how to cope – he loved yeh so much and the wee mite! He was lookin’ forward ter being a father! All he talked about to me as the day was long! Jessica this and Jessica that. The baby this and the baby that! Didn’t care if it were a boy or a girl; he loved it because he loved yeh and that’s all there is to it! But he was distraught over losing it and almost losing yeh in the process!’

Jessica’s eyes filled with tears.

‘Then how could make me feel like he hated me for it!’

‘Hate is just the flipside o’ love, isn’t it lass? Even now, no matter what you tell yerself, yeh know that the goodness in him loved you somethin’ fierce. He’s never cared about anyone the way he has with yeh. And when yeh left here – it broke it heart.’

Jessica began to sob and Hagrid moved his chair closer and clasped both her hands in one of his, taking care not to hurt her.

‘He’s made some mistakes with yeh, right? – but I reckon yeh’ve made just as many with him and because of him too.’

‘Hagrid,’ Jessica rasped. ‘You have no idea what I’ve done! He’d never forgive me, no more than I can forgive myself!’

‘The two of yeh need to sort this out! Yeh had something that was good and pure! I seen it! I know yeh did! He’s…complicated and does what he thinks is best for reasons that are good.’

‘He made me feel worthless! He was harsh and cold and unfeeling; I questioned my sanity! I thought I must be crazy for loving and wanting a man that despised me so much!’

‘He didn’t mean to! Honestly…’

A mental image of Cedric swam in front of Jessica’s eyes. That moment at the World Cup was one thing and even at his parents home. But their two interludes since returning to Hogwarts were something else.

Hagrid could see that the Librarian was seriously conflicted, but thought it simply because of Severus and how he’d treated her all those months ago. He encouraged her to just think about it, and don’t be so mean to the professor when he tries so hard with her.

Jessica simply nodded and then headed back to the castle.

xxxOOOxxx

Jessica didn’t waste time once she returned to her quarters. She had been crazy to think that this mad trip to another world could work. Her curiosity had gotten the better of her in more ways than one and now she was paying a price for it, too high a price. And she’d ruined at least three people’s lives in the process: Severus, Remus and Cedric.

She looked around the place one more time that had started to feel like a home. As everyone else in the castle prepared for meet the delegations from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons, Jessica Newkirk disappeared leaving only a short note behind to confirm that she was gone.

And never coming back.

xxxOOOxxx

xxxOOOxxx

From the author:

Many thanks to those taking the time to read!

If you like the story and don’t have a problem with the twists and turns in the plot or the finer details, I’d love to hear from you; really I would! Don’t be shy! I know from the stats I have plenty of readers who are sticking with it and that is truly fantastic! I’d love to know who you all are though LOL

Re: Chapter 28

It’s all in the details folks…just like the chapters before it.

Native Americans: Anyone with questions about why a Native American would comment that some might find it odd that they felt so at home in the Highlands should the read the preceding chapters again, as its right there in the detail and from no less than Snape and Dumbledore. Nothing untoward about it as I am Nanticoke-Lenni Lenape myself (and all of the factoids I have written about us are fact) living in London as some of you know…nobody on either side of the Atlantic understands why I would keep myself from my people or how I can be comfortable in Britain and not have returned home for a visit for so many years. Self-insertion? JKR did it with Hermione and freely admits it – no shame there. My people aren’t represented much anywhere, so when I feel inspired I like to feature us. Given our traditions, they can work well with the world of HP I feel.

The Clan McKenzie: there will be more to come about them when the time is right in the story…perhaps sooner than might be expected if you let the story carry on….

Cedric + Jessica: Nobody has a clue at the moment what is going on with Cedric and Jessica and they haven’t done anything to give it away. This does not mean that things will continue to be this way – but at the moment nobody has any idea and that’s that. McGonagall can’t disapprove of what she doesn’t know about – besides which, some strong details have been dropped about her own domestic situation… We know from canon that the Deputy Headmistress isn’t about bending the rules when it suits her despite the fact that she does take points from her own House. This is AU and I’m playing with perceptions and canon facts to be sure – but the storyline lends itself tremendously to that.

And for the record – it wasn’t ONLY Cedric that came to Jessica’s defense by telling the truth about what they witnessed in the Library. Terry Boot did and McGonagall herself according to what I did write. I haven’t even commented on Cho or Marietta yet; but one of them did go (as you know now if you read this chapter). Others came forward to talk about other transgressions at the hands of the Malfoys over the years including students and other staff members along with some of the governors themselves. I even mentioned Susan Bones and her aunt – given that her aunt the Judge dies in Book 6, something’s coming on that score

The fact that readers know Cedric and Jessica are involved is one thing, but no one else in the story has any idea yet. And I do emphasise yet. Her miscarriage has NOTHING to do with the reason why she’s with Cedric. As people have commented in this story – you can’t help who you love. Perhaps we should, but even in real-life most of us cannot help who we are attracted to and end up with.

I still have a long way to go with this story. Ten chapters from now things might have changed considerably. Or perhaps only a very little. The more people harp on a certain aspect of the story, the more inclined I am to stick with it.

The Malfoys: Draco knew that his father was one of the thugs raping, pillaging and god knows what else at the Cup and he did not kept his mouth shut about it (this is not too dissimilar from canon where do know that Lucius was one of the people rampaging at the Cup and Draco shoots his mouth off to the Trio about it – although not in explicit terms and the end result was the same – the Trio understood exactly what he meant and knew that Malfoy Senior was one of those wearing Death Eater masks torturing the Robertses). Snape confirmed this to Jessica. Its also fairly obvious that Snape was taken aback at the sight of Lucius being so laid back with her and he goes on to warn her later to be careful, that Lucius IS up to something. Jessica has every right to be as concerned as she is – and at the fact that Malfoy Senior wasn’t being given the exact truth. Draco’s reinterpretation brings Lucius to the school rather than Narcissa whom McGonagall has already clear has come quite a few times to flat out lie about Jessica at the behest of her son.

Lucius was one of the masked men – and Jessica was violently attacked and almost raped herself. He is Death Eater loyal to Voldemort and she is well aware it, unlike most of the people around her except for Snape and perhaps Dumbledore. If Lucius wanted to address Jessica personally, Hogwarts was the wrong place to do it given his comments were related to the Cup. Jessica rightly pointed out: ‘You are a School Governor. Mr. Malfoy; any staff member who receives a visit from you is always well-aware of it. I have no doubt that you would do whatever you think necessary to force me from this school. You have the power to do it – it’s that simple.’ Lucius uses his and abuses his power, which has already been made clear earlier in the story. An opportunity arose to finally be rid of his pestilence and it was seized on.

Why would anyone in their right mind want him as a school governor when he threatens and intimidates everyone around him to get what he wants and (as will be borne out later) no one really believed his story of being under the Imperius Curse in the First War? He’s out because he’s a bastard and people finally got their act together to do something about it, plain and simple. Jessica’s situation wasn’t even the tip of a formidable iceberg. Everyone has said how he rules Hogwarts…

As for complaints against Draco – most around concede that he is exactly as Jessica sees that he is. She sees clearly that he is not dissimilar to his character in the books. He is a spoilt, arrogant, petulant brat who is always going to his father especially about one thing or another – particularly one Harry Potter. It gets results all through the books – and it’s gotten him results in this story too.

Lucius + Jessica: Like many a successful man in business or politics who wields more power than one man should possibly have (and especially Slytherins according to HP lore), Lucius is very cunning, manipulative and more than a bit ruthless. He didn’t stay out of Azkaban after the First War for nothing. It was clear even at the Cup that he had an agenda with Jessica when they first met. Even then his wife’s back was up about her and she has gone on to complain about Jessica quite a bit. Could it be that she wants Jessica out of Hogwarts for reasons of her own?

Arthur Weasley saw that Lucius was up to something and was too interested in Jessica. Jessica noted from the beginning of the last chapter that she didn’t want to be alone with him – that implies she already knows that to do so would be dangerous. And Lucius clearly didn’t believe that he was alone, based on his observation when McGonagall pops out. He played the game as he saw fit, but his thinly veiled threat about Jessica’s propensity to be so forthright spoke volumes (or should have!). That comment wasn’t just for her! Now Snape has made it clear: everything that Malfoy Senior is doing is for a reason, but even he doesn’t know what. We also know that after the visit Lucius sent Jessica a note – the contents of which made her take it straight to McGonagall and the Headmaster and then hand it over to Liam because she now understood “why Narcissa keeps him on a very tight leash”. So much for Mr. Nice Guy!

The fact that he can appear to be reasonable should raise red flags because he’s a nasty piece of work – consistent with Canon but stepped up a notch; mainly because Jason Isaacs portrays him so very well and he does seem quite evil in the fims! LOL But several of the characters have commented on what Lucius is like, even Liam McKenzie and even Terry Boot weighed in.

And for the record again: Lucius did threaten Jessica: “But I would say this: speaking as one finds is not always appropriate in every society. I quite enjoy your directness...but it could lead you to be misunderstood – and we wouldn’t want that, now would we?” A thinly-veiled threat, but a threat nonetheless. Do I really need to say that it is a “thinly-veiled threat”? The fact that he appears to be polite almost to the point of obliging and assures her that they will meet and talk again should be a serious worry given what we know he’s like! It’s also another perhaps another thread into the “who tried to kill Jessica to prevent her coming in the first place” scenario – a core aspect of this story in case anyone’s forgotten. We are working up to that and some mighty clues have been dropped along the way - if you caught them. The Librarian was encouraged to stand up for herself and not take any crap basically – but while it is good advice in some ways, it could also be the undoing of her big time in others. And perhaps it just might be…in time…. But she’s got the Clan McKenzie behind her and Lucius is afraid of them… Interesting… and all will be revealed in time…

Jessica: Well the road she is traveling isn’t an easy one. For a start she knows too much about the major events around her. However, she is seeing that things aren’t necessarily as they seem in the books. Now I am playing fast with canon – and it’s fun to do! But there is a point to everything that I have written and some things will be more obvious than others. However if you don’t feel sympathetic, you just don’t. People make mistakes and she’s going to make heaps of them in this story. I don’t expect the story to resonate with everyone, but I’d like to think if you’ve made it this far then something keeps you going even if it’s not her…