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.

NOTE: this chapter includes a line from the Matrix - “To deny one’s impulses is to deny being human”

Fantasy/Drama

This story is rated R/M.

ENIGMA

Chapter 030: Missing

When Jessica didn’t gather with the rest of the students and staff to greet their guests, McGonagall began to feel uneasy.

‘You’re sure she was alright, Hagrid?’ she asked anxiously.

‘She was fine! Fit as a fiddle! She were headed back up here to get ready she said!’

Hermione, Ron and Harry were standing nearby and overheard the whispered exchange.

‘You don’t think she’s freaked about Lucius Malfoy, do you?’ Ron asked in a hushed tone.

‘That – and whatever it was that Hagrid went on about after we left,’ Hermione replied nervously. ‘I saw her coming back up the hill from my window – she was there for a long time after we’d gone!’

‘What could he have said to upset her that much?’ said Ron.

‘Are you serious? This is Hagrid we’re talking about!’ Harry hissed. ‘He can be so bloody thick sometimes.’

‘I’ll bet whatever he said to her pushed her over the edge,’ Ron said. ‘He doesn’t think as much as he should do, Mum says. I agree with her actually…’

‘He only means well. You know he worries after her too – just like we all do,’ Hermione said in hushed tones.

xxxOOOxxx

Their guests were welcomed into the Great Hall and everyone commented on the fact that Viktor Krum, the world-famous Quidditch player from Bulgaria, was not only a student – he was there as a potential candidate for the TriWizard Tournament. But the elation was short-lived when it was noticed that Jessica was not among them at her usual place at the staff table. They suffered through dinner and the formal acknowledgement of their guests place amongst their number. They paid attention to Dumbledore’s speech about the Tournament and its perils; and about the Goblet of Fire. There was a lot of excited conversation throughout the Great Hall, with the exception of a few staff and students.

‘Something’s wrong; I know it is,’ Harry whispered fretfully to Hermione after they had finished dinner and were on their way back to their dormitories in Gryffindor. ‘She’s put all the business with Snape behind her – she doesn’t have a reason to stay away!’

‘Harry for God’s sake – can you at least try to be discreet!’ Hermione rasped in a low voice. ‘But so am I…’

‘She can’t be sick – I mean not that quick surely!’ Ron commented. ‘You don’t think that wotsisname got to her do you?’

‘Considering what’s happened – nothing would surprise me…’ Harry said grimly.

‘He wouldn’t be that stupid; everyone would know it’s him,’ said Hermione. ‘He’s cleverer than that.

Their thoughts about the Goblet of Fire were pushed to the side as they thought about one of their favourite staff members.

‘Stranger things have happened – and she’s been a bit…out of sorts lately I think,’ Ron said diplomatically as they stood up to leave for their dormitories. ‘Look at what happened to Ginny two years ago – you couldn’t have convinced me that something like that would happen to her!;

‘Yeah – and at the hands of Lucius Malfoy; how ironic!’ Harry hissed.

‘But this was such a big deal, and even Dumbledore’s worried – just look!’ Harry said as he jerked his head.

The Headmaster was having a word with Flitwick and McGonagall with Snape hovering looking grimmer than usual.

xxxOOOxxx

Jessica breathed a sigh of relief now that the Scotland was well and truly behind her. She would completely disappear and start all over again. As Dumbledore had rightly said, there was a significant advantage to being able to exist with Muggles the way she had done.

She’d hated her bank back in her own world and hadn’t gotten around to researching the alternatives in this world. For once she wasn’t beating herself up about being so lazy. She hadn’t even opened an account at Gringotts; instead she exchanged her Hogwarts salary for British currency and kept her money with her, as foolish as it was. The exchange rates always tilted heavily in her favour. Jessica was convinced that she’d wind up an old bag lady with thousands of pounds stuffed in a rancid mattress...

It was almost two in the morning when she began her search for a Best Westenra motel, famous for being open twenty-four hours a day. A quick search of an interactive information kiosk revealed one that was quite near and in no time at all she had booked in and paid for her room.

The former Librian’s head had barely touched the pillow before she fell into a fitful sleep, dreaming only of the love she’d had and lost.

xxxOOOxxx

When Jessica didn’t turn up for breakfast the next morning, panic began to set in amongst those who were the closest to her. Mid-morning the Trio were called to Professor Dumbledore’s office. When they arrived they were surprised to see Hagrid there along with Professors McGonagall, Flitwick Sprout and Snape.

‘Good morning,’ Dumbledore said. ‘I won’t keep you long…’

‘What’s going on, Sir? Is something wrong with Jess…Miss Newkirk?’ Harry sputtered.

There was a strained silence before the Headmaster answered.

‘It would appear that Miss Newkirk has gone missing…’

‘What do you mean, “missing”?

‘She has gone from her rooms and there has been no sign of her in the castle or on the grounds.’ Dumbledore said grimly. ‘She has not taken all of her things and…’

Just then the Prefects for each of the four Houses entered the room.

‘Thank you for coming,’ McGonagall said nervously. ‘What we are about to put to you must be kept in the strictest of confidence.’

‘Of course,’ Cedric replied over the mumbled responses of his fellow Prefects. ‘What’s going on?’

‘Miss Newkirk is missing. It appears as though she’s been gone since late yesterday afternoon,’ Sprout answered sadly.

The Hufflepuff Quidditch Captain’s mouth opened, but he could not find the words to speak. He willed himself to get a grip and hold himself together.

‘How? What happened to her?’

‘We don’t know as yet,’ McGonagall replied tersely. ‘But we will find out, that I assure you.’

‘We must keep the alarm amongst our population to a minimum and particularly with our guests,’ Dumbledore said firmly. ‘But I must impress upon you the necessity of keeping your eyes open. Given recent events…’

‘’What if she’s gone for reasons that have nothing to do with the Cup or anything that’s happened since the term started?’ Harry interrupted as he glared at Snape.

‘Mr. Potter you will hold your tongue!’ Professor McGonagall barked. ‘I understand you have formed an attachment to Miss Newkirk as a number of your peers have, but do not think for one moment that you have all the answers or know her so very well!’

‘Then why are we here?’ Harry asked through clenched teeth.

‘You were amongst the last to see and speak with her,’ Snape relied coldly. ‘Have you any information to relate which might prove useful?’

‘Aside from the fact that we all agree Lucius Malfoy is a right bastard and the same can be said for anyone that scum associates with – NO!’ Harry hissed.

‘Then there is no point to your remaining – is there!’

Harry took a step forward and started to speak but was silenced by the Headmaster.

‘You three may go – for now. I implore you to speak nothing of this to your classmates or any of the other staff! As far as you are aware nothing is wrong. Should anyone comment about her absence, you’ve heard that Miss Newkirk is ill and needs time away from her duties here; she’s taxed herself in trying to help you all and is on extended leave.’

‘Right!’ Harry snapped as he continued to glare at the Potions Master and ignore the tugging of his jumper by Hermione.

‘Harry – let’s go!’ she hissed.

She, Ron and Harry exited the room slowly, hoping they would hear more. But the doors to the Headmaster’s office shut firmly behind them and the revolving staircase took them downwards.

‘What’ll we do know,’ Ron snapped angrily.

‘There’s nothing we can do – except wait…’ Harry grumbled. ‘Fucking Snape! This is all his fault! He…’

‘Consider yourself lucky that Jessica answered our questions, Harry. It’s not any of our business really even though we were there and saw it with our own eyes,’ Hermione replied carefully. ‘Personally I think its one of two things…’

‘Go on then – tell us like you always do,’ Ron sniffed.

‘I think it’s one of two things,’ Hermione said in a low voice as they headed for their study period in the Great Hall. ‘Either Lucius Malfoy is up to something or…’

‘Or what?’ Harry sighed.

‘Or she’s had enough him and everything else and just…snapped…’

‘Jessica is anything but crazy! She was perfectly fine when we left her – she was looking forward to her afternoon off and everything! She told us she was coming back to get ready!’ Harry said vehemently. ‘She wasn’t peculiar or anything!’

‘Think about it for a minute,’ Hermione said as they stopped in the old gothic courtyard down from the Hall. There was no point in going in since studying was the last thing any of them could do right now. ‘Think of who she is, who she really is! This is a HUGE adjustment for anyone not born into it – but this; she’s not even from this world! And she comes here and all this stuff happens to her! And McGonagall’s right! I’ll bet you anything stuff has happened that we don’t even know about! And you can guarantee that none of them are going to tell us!’

‘What’s the point of having the bloody Prefects patrol for? Flipping pretty-boy Diggory!’ Ron spat.

‘If you were hosting one of the biggest events in wizarding history – would you want everyone and their mother to know that someone’s disappeared from right under the nose of the Greatest Wizard of the Age?’ Hermione asked. ‘And of all things it happens on the day the Tournament is officially opened? Dumbledore can’t call Aurors or even the Senior Guards – people would know something’s wrong and Merlin knows he wouldn’t want Fudge breathing down his neck. The Prefects will have to keep rumours from starting up in their Houses and they already make patrols just like the Professors do. It’s a huge responsibility which is why Dumbledore and McGonagall are so careful about who gets chosen every year.

‘Can you imagine if the Daily Prophet found out?’ Ron said as he cringed. ‘All hell would break loose!’

‘And don’t forget the official story – Jessica has spent most of her life living amongst Muggles… She’s an enigma to people who loathe Muggles and Muggleborns especially and some curious minds would want to know a lot more about her…’ Hermione added.

‘…And that level of interest would be unprecedented,’ Harry said slowly. ‘Even with what Dumbledore’s done for her, it isn’t really enough is it?’

‘It wasn’t enough to keep Lucius Malfoy away from her,’ Hermione said angrily. ‘And I’ll bet that if he ever gets wind of this, he won’t be too happy either.’

‘Why? I would’ve thought he want her to be well out of here after all that business with the governors and that…’ said Ron.

‘She’s intelligent; she’s clever and given her family lineage people assume she has to be a powerful witch. From what Cho was saying, he was definitely working and angle of some kind. I’ll just bet he’s up to something and you can bet its nothing good!’

‘It’s just too weird; Draco and his mother have been bitching about Jessica since she started working here. Then Lucius Malfoy cosies up to her at the Cup…’ Ron said.

‘…and the bitching got worse, if anything,’ said Harry. ‘Then Lucius Malfoy turns up and tries to act like he’s not the one with the problem even though he came up here to hit her up about what happened at the Cup; but he talks about how interested in her he is and then warns her to keep her mouth shut.’

‘Need I say more?’ asked Hermione. ‘That’s the thing about those Malfoys; they might be clever, but they are incredibly transparent.’

‘It’d be no wonder if she snapped,’ said Ron. ‘Like you said, so much has happened to her and in such a short time… bless her if there’s anything else… How much more can one person take?’

‘Exactly,’ said Hermione. ‘Lucius Malfoy has too much to loose right now; I heard Draco talking – and it sounds like he doesn’t have a choice but to lie low where Jessica is concerned. All of his accusations were rubbish anyway – Jessica was the last one to ever play favourites or refuse to help anyone. She’s spending more time dealing with the Slytherins than anyone else and all some of them do is stab her in the back!’

‘Yeah – unlike that bastard who’s his Head of House…’

‘I wouldn’t be too sure about that Harry,’ Hermione said carefully. ‘That’s half the problem with this place – all these rumours and assumptions. I think things are more complicated than they seem…and all of the professors have bent the rules when it suited them. Like McGonagall bending them for you, especially with Quidditch.’

’But it’s for the House – that’s different!’

‘You keep telling yourself that,’ Hermione sniffed as the bell sounded for their next class.

‘Whatever – look, we can’t just sit around doing nothing…’ said Harry.

‘We don’t have a choice! And we need to keep a cool head or it’s going to be trouble. Professor McGonagall will tell us when they know something; you know she will…’

‘It’s the waiting that’s hard,’ said Ron.

‘As long as she’s alright; that’s all I care about…’ said Harry.

The Trio headed to their next class, Potions with the Slytherins, dreading the black spectre that was Professor Snape who was clearly in a darkly foul mood.

‘Hey – I just thought of something!’ Hermione gasped.

‘Oh no – not again!’ huffed Ron.

‘Cool it, Ron,’ said Harry. ‘You just thought about what?’

‘The Clan McKenzie – Cho said that Jessica had not only been welcomed into the clan, she’d been initiated! She saw the tattoos and everything – and so did Lucius Malfoy!’

‘What?!’ sputtered Ron. ‘And when did you plan on telling us that bit?’

‘I’m telling you now aren’t I? I’ll say one thing for Cho, she doesn’t run off at the mouth like some people around here…’

‘All this stuff with her tattoos – what does that mean?’ Harry asked tensely, his heart racing a mile-a-minute.

‘It means that Dumbledore will have to leave it up to McGonagall and her family to handle things in the way of the Highlanders – And Lucius Malfoy can’t touch her even if he wanted to! I don’t think Jessica knows what she’s got with those tattoos; she’s had a lot to learn in such a short time and she’d mentioned to me that she was spending her Christmas holidays going through more tutoring and especially about her initiation!’

‘I’ve heard stories about them from Dad. They’re not just ordinary tattoos – they’re magical!’ said Ron in a low voice.

‘Like the Dark Mark?’ Harry sputtered incredulously.

‘Exactly,’ Hermione said as they neared the door to the Potions Classroom. ‘I read all about them and they are exactly like the Dark Mark; McGonagall or whoever should be able to track her with no problem! And they are some kind of protection too… it’s all complicated stuff, but let’s just say she’s in the best possible position she could be in if she’s been snatched, all things considered.’

‘I just realised something,’ said Ron with astonishment. ‘Mad-Eye Moody wasn’t there! He’s the most decorated Auror in the history of the Ministry – surely if anyone could get to the bottom of whether or not Dark Wizards had anything to do with Jessica being missing it would be him? I mean – Dumbledore brought him here because of all this business with that Tournament…’

‘You’re right,’ Hermione answered with a frown. ‘I’m sure there’s more behind Moody being here than meets the eyes; but it doesn’t make any sense why he wasn’t there this morning…’

‘With everything Moody has at his disposal…’ began Ron ‘They could have this sorted out fairly quick-ish – don’t you think?’

‘It’s weird…’ said Harry. ‘Surely they’d trust him?’

‘I don’t know – the Highland Clans don’t like the Ministry. They haven’t forgotten the injustices the Scottish had to deal with at the hands of the English like Culloden and that. Jessica’s one of them now and let’s face it, in America no group is more disenfranchised than Native Americans. TGhey might as well be werewolves the way they are treated and laws stacked against them. The McKenzies would want to handle it their own way I think.’

‘I hope you’re right,’ Harry muttered.

‘I just thought of something else,’ whispered Ron as they drew near the Potions classroom. ‘What if she doesn’t want to be found?’

Harry and Hermione stopped short, but before they could say anything Snape beat them to the door and took 30 points from Gryffindor for being late.

‘Arsehole! God only knows what the hell she ever saw in you!’ Harry growled under his breath.

The Boy Who Lived hated Professor Snape even more than ever for having driven out the only mother-figure that he’d ever really had.

xxxOOOxxx

Cedric was finished with his patrolling duties. Unfortunately he was stuck with monitoring his own House, same as the other Prefects. He couldn’t get anywhere near Ravenclaw and besides, it was stupid to even think about getting into Jessica’s quarters. Still, he couldn’t help but to feel that something might have been overlooked. She wouldn’t just go without saying something, of course she wouldn’t!

Something had forced her hand, pushed her to go – if she actually went of her own accord. He knew Lucius Malfoy was a nasty piece of work, but he wouldn’t be that stupid to try anything against her. Not now with everything going on. However, he was highly skilled in the art of subtle intimidation as much as any other threatening behaviour. Cedric’s father had told him quite a few stories when he was old enough so that he would know to never underestimate just how nasty the Malfoys could be. His father had been phenomenally upset at how his only child had gone against one of the most feared men in their world. But his mother had always said that people who don’t stand for something will fall for anything.

Cedric made his way to his room. That was one benefit of being a Prefect, having his own

room for a change. He couldn’t face anyone tonight and just wanted to be left alone. The other benefit was the Prefect’s bathroom, definitely nicer and more comfortable than the regular student bathrooms that the others had to share.

The Hufflepuff had sat in the bath, hoping somehow that the hot water would sooth his raw nerves. But it was not to be. He was more wound up than ever. He looked out of his window in the direction he knew Jessica’s rooms to be. The tears he’d been holding back all day started streaming down his face.

He walked over to his wardrobe and took out some photographs from a small wooden box at the top of it. Two were taken at the Cup – she was beaming with happiness after he picked out the Pashmina and slippers he thought would suit her very well. In one she’d tried on the Pashmina and given him a big smile. Several others were at his parent’s: In one photo she was sound asleep in his bed and had rolled onto her stomach, her long hair streaming across his pillows. She had kicked off the blankets and the sheet barely covered her nakedness. In another she was just waking up and ready to swat him with a pillow; she was so incredibly beautiful to him… In another the sheet was off and she was reaching her arms up for him with her legs slightly parted, ready to make love again and moaning at him to put the damn camera down before she ripped his bollocks off… In another, they were in bed together, laughing with the camera held up above them as the flash went; she loved his bollocks too much to turn him into a eunuch she’d said… In two others, the timer had been set as they sat in the backyard kissing passionately. The rest were taken at Hogwarts in the Library and in the grounds, but always with several students from the other Houses (copies of them were going into the end-of-term Yearbook).

There was no evidence of their two times together at Hogwarts – they were especially careful about that. And if anyone ever came across these pictures for some strange reason, all they would see were nature shots from the area he lived in. He’d do anything to protect what he had with Jessica – anything. It shouldn’t have taken her running away from him for him to realise it to his magical core.

Cedric clutched the photos to him as he wept. He didn’t want to believe that something awful had happened to her the way the Gyffindors seemed to think it might have. He knew what Professor Sprout thought – she believed that Jessica was truly overworked; she practically lived in the Library.

But the Hufflepuff Quidditch Captain blamed himself. Jessica was so scared that he was going to die in the Tournament…and he knew she couldn’t face him competing in it. The last time they were together in her rooms they’d been in her bed and fallen asleep. She woke up crying out hysterically for him from a nightmare; a nightmare where the Tournament ended with his death...

But no one could know that.

‘Please come back, Jessica!’ he rasped. ‘I love you and I need you! I can’t! I’m sorry I let you down! I won’t do it! I promise I won’t do it!’

Over and over he pleaded with her, as though she could hear him wherever she was right now.

He finally collapsed on his bed and cried himself to sleep, his memory tormenting him with dreams of the times they had spent together.

xxxOOOxxx

Snape sat in front of his fireplace holding a tiny pale blue Babygro sleepsuit in his hands. Tears streamed down his face as he thought of the woman he had never stopped loving and the son they had buried. He’d tried everything for Jessica’s sake – and failed. He tried not to blame the Headmaster, but he’d warned him that his plan couldn’t work. Severus knew Lucius Malfoy better than anyone, and he knew that someone like Jessica was too much a temptation.

But who wouldn’t be tempted by her? She was intelligent, very well-read, undeniably attractive (to him anyway – or maybe she was attractive to him because of what he felt for her?) and strong. Only a strong woman could take on Lucius Malfoy as she had – no different to Narcissa. Lucius couldn’t stand weak-minded women. He’d been highly desired as a marriage partner, but Narcissa Black got him in the end. She was cool, calculating, strong, beautiful – and she loved him with a passion that knew no bounds. Jessica was no threat to Narcissa, but Lucius’ interest in the Librarian unwittingly made her one. Narcissa had fought to keep other women from sharing the marital bed, not that it was necessary. Lucius may be a lot of things not at all nice, but he was particularly loyal to his wife – outside of Dark Revels.

The Dark Revels were the one exception and with them, for Lucius it was the fine art of seduction. While others were happy to pick someone and wander off to the nearest room of his secret hideaway, he preferred to talk first to his carefully selected Chosen One and ensure that they had a glass of some of his finest wine and specially prepared foods. He was like a spider spinning a deadly web; the male equivalent of the Black Widow going in for the kill. There hadn’t been a woman who’d survived the brutal shagging and sado-masochistic predilections he subscribed to – making it impossible for him to be betrayed. Of course, they were Muggles and so were easily expendable. And the good, honorable upstanding citizens he played with had too many secrets of their own to ever betray his – not openly at any rate.

The Potions Master had thought about this and a few other peculiarities over and over since he got wind of what happened with Lucius “chats” with Jessica. He understood some of the interest Lucius had for her, after all, it wasn’t that far off from his own when they first met. The advantage that Snape had was that he knew her secrets (or so he thought). God forbid Lucius ever found out anything – especially that Snape had sired a son with her…

Lucius was a man who more often than not was driven by impulse. “To deny one’s impulses is to deny being human, Snape” he’d lectured the Potions Master so often when Severus stopped participating in the Revels years ago. Lucius’ impulses meant that someone was bound to pay a high price, someone who wasn’t him.

Snape was more worried than ever for Jessica, the latest object of his impulses, wherever she was. The last person she’d really spoken to was Hagrid; the same Hagrid who was unusually quiet in the Headmaster’s office this morning.The Headmaster had dismissed every one except for McGonagall, Hagrid and the Potions Master. Dumbledore demanded to know what the topic of conversation was and Hagrid told him about the conversation they’d had. Suffice it to say that Dumbledore and McGonagall were not entirely pleased. Jessica was so wound up lately – that was simply not a conversation that ought to have happened, not yet anyway.

Hagrid.

‘I know you Hagrid, I know you too well! You and that ruddy big mouth of yours!’ he rasped before breaking down completely.

There was no doubt in his mind that the reason why Jessica had fled was that she couldn’t didn’t want to be around him. She absolutely did not love him anymore, and it was his own fault.

She must truly despise him to be so determined to not be found.

Snape finally retired to bed, the few hours of tormented sleep bringing nothing but torturous dreams of the son he had been devastated to loose and Jessica, a Jessica who still loved him deeply.

xxxOOOxxx

Minerva had gone home to her husband as soon as she left Dumbledore’s office that morning. She would stay the night and return the next morning. She and Dumbledore both hoped against hopes that the issue of Jessica’s whereabouts would be resolved.

She and Liam had been sat casting spells over a stone bowl filled with water for several hours – and nothing had happened. Not so much as a ripple.

‘I never thought she would…’ the Deputy Headmistress muttered.

‘We’ll find a way to find her – somehow,’ Liam said unconvincingly. ‘But at least you have something to tell him…’

He threw some powder into their fireplace and called for Dumbledore.

‘Have you found her? Where is she? Is she alright?’ the Headmaster asked in strained tones.

McGonagall looked at her husband and then shook her head ‘no’.

‘Which is it then?’ Dumbledore asked shakily as he sat down across from them.

‘She’s not even in the country Albus.’

‘She… what?’

‘We have scryed for several hours. I’ve tried every trick in the book and some things I’m ashamed to say I even know how to do,’ Liam sniffed. ‘But there was no sign of the lass – anywhere in the British Isles. Either she doesn’t want to be found or someone doesn’t want ye to find her!’

‘No,’ Dumbledore hissed darkly. ‘No, No, No!’

‘Look!’ Liam said as he rolled up his shirt sleeve and stroked the tattoo on his left bicep. Nothing happened. ‘The Mark doesn’t even shimmer as it ought – if we had even a bit of that…!’

‘But we don’t!’ McGonagall cried. ‘That poor girl is out there somewhere and Merlin help us if she needs us!’

‘Did ye search the rooms high and low?’ Liam asked as he held a pendulum of clear quartz from a silver and amethyst chain.

‘I… I believe we did…’ Minerva said unconvincingly.

‘The lass – she wasna taken nor was she tricked away! She went of her own accord and she’s left ye something. Ye were all so distraught ye missed it! Ye need to look properly…’

Dumbledore didn’t wait for the rest of the answer. The aged wizard leapt into the fire and Liam placed a restraining hand on Minerva’s arm to make her stay put.

‘He’s made the mess, let him open his eyes,’ he said firmly.

Twenty minutes passed before Dumbledore returned, clutching a small piece of parchment in his hands.

‘She’s left us,’ he whispered in a choked voice. ‘And she said she’s never coming back,’

McGonagall took a sip of her cold tea and managed to find her voice.

‘Where did you find it?’

‘It was tucked away on her mantelpiece in the sitting room, almost behind some photographs.’

‘And did she say why?’

‘No…’

‘Let me have it,’ Liam said quietly.

The Headmaster handed the note over and McGonagall’s husband held it above the bowl of water. He waved his hand across it and the water began to shimmer and bubble.

‘Holy Merlin!’ Minerva rasped as Jessica’s face came into view.

She was distraught, so distraught wherever she was.

‘T’is her heart that ails her more than anything. Ye’ve no idea the pressure she’s been under because of it…’

‘Her heart… physically or romantically?’ Minerva asked gravely.

‘Romantic to be sure, aye? But it is more than that – much more than that. T’is not an easy thing to find your soulmate – and be forced to lose them as ye well know my dear.’

‘Damn that Severus Snape!’ Minerva cried. ‘Him – a soul connection! Why in God’s name…!’

Liam put up a hand to silence his wife and then stayed silent himself for the moment. He could see something they couldn’t. And he knew well enough to keep quiet. Too much depended on it.

‘Will ye let me resolve this?’ he asked Dumbledore.

‘I can hardly interfere,’ the Headmaster said resignedly. ‘It seems everything I try to do for Jessica turns out incredibly wrong.’

‘Aye – that it does. But I need your sacred promise on one thing.’

‘You have it,’ Dumbledore said firmly.

‘Ye’ve no idea what I mean to ask ye.’

The Headmaster nodded and let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding.

‘She has a path to follow, and this is part of it. When she returns to ye – and she will, mind – when she returns to ye – do not interfere with her heart again. Not ye or anyone else close to ye. Ye only cause her more pain when ye do and ye bring about things that ought not to happen!’

‘But Severus…’ Dumbledore said slowly.

‘I canna say more than I already have and I willna. I do it fer her sake and the one who loves her truly.’

‘Yes Severus loves her!’ Dumbledore rasped. ‘He’s never stopped!’

‘He’s got a funny way of showing it!’

‘None of us should interfere!’ Dumbledore said. ‘Not even you!’

‘I’m not interfering except to try and bring her home, bring her back here where she can have some peace. She’ll have her own place; here amongst her family,’ Liam replied. ‘But listen to me – I know that she believes in what she thinks must happen because of those books… and all I can say is she does herself a disservice holding on to those beliefs.’

‘Yes, well… she’s not even in them for a start,’ McGonagall said thoughtfully. ‘But I do wonder at all she knows… To carry around such a burden; I would not wish to have that cursed gift for all the gold in Gringotts.’

‘The fact that she’s not in them and the fact that things are happening that she’s no foreknowledge of – these things are a testament that ye play with destiny too much, Dumbledore. If ye hadna sent her on the wild goose chase to the Cup – things would be very different indeed. Three people’s hearts wouldna be so broken. There’s one that needs her more than Snape ever will.’

‘That he does indeed,’ Dumbledore murmured as he thought of the only other man Jessica had been involved with besides the Potions Master. It seemed even she was wrong about what was in store for Remus Lupin in the next couple of years.

‘So – I have your word ye willna interfere with her or the one who truly loves her?’ Liam asked.

‘You do,’ Dumbledore said as he nodded.

He passed his hand over the bowl and the water turned a fiery red with gold flecks.

‘It’s done,’ said Liam.

‘Well – this is fine end to a trying couple of days,’ Dumbledore said brightly.

‘It will be mighty fine when the lass is home. It’s best to give her some time on her own and then let Minerva and I tend to her. She needs this break to come to terms with a few things – and to find her strength and resolve again.’

‘And Lucius Malfoy…’ Dumbledore said hesitantly.

‘Oh – he won’t be a problem for some time yet…’ McGonagall said irritably.

‘I suppose that’s something…’

‘The lass will need to be trained up soundly. She’ll need everything we can give her so that she can handle herself with what’s to come. We all need a bit more, but her especially.’

Dumbledore held out a hand and Liam shook it.

‘I know I didn’t do as much as I probably should have…’ the Headmaster said. ‘I was wrong...’

‘Mmm well hindsight is twenty-twenty, eh Dumbledore?’ Liam said warily. ‘It’s all water under the bridge now.’

The Headmaster took his leave, but looking a lot better than when he’d first stepped into their workroom.

Minerva looked at her husband and shook her head after sealing the fireplace.

‘He’s totally got the wrong idea and I’m completely in the dark – sort of,’ she said trying to restrain a smirk.

‘For the moment ye must be about certain things only.’

They straightened up the room and cleared away the things they’d been using. Liam took the note and put it away for safekeeping, knowing it would be useful again.

‘Ye know where she is, don’t ye,’ Minerva proposed, lapsing into her native accent. ‘Did ye see the canals and the buildings with big windows?’

‘Aye – ye’ve a good eye woman. And ye are the model of discretion,’ her husband answered as they went upstairs and prepared for bed.

‘She picked a mighty fine place to run off to. I never would have guessed in a million years to even think of her going there,’ the Deputy Headmistress said as she crawled into bed after a long hot shower.

‘Aye, that she did. She’s got a mighty fine brain – no one will think of looking there. We’ll have ourselves a fine time. Don’t ye worry, the lass will be bursting to see us.’

‘And Albus?’

‘Will be very angry when the truth is laid bare before him. But he did vow to not interfere and it was sealed. He will have to keep his own counsel, but he doesna have to like it.’

‘Merlin’s Beard… God help us all…’

‘Especially Him,’ Liam said cryptically as he thought of the face that had been revealed to him in the shimmering bubbling waters.