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? SSnape, CDiggory, OFC

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.

CHAPTER NOTES: Yes I have been gone for quite some time. Unfortunately I had some very real-life problems to grapple with. But I will finish this and all my other stories. And more will be revealed about the clans in time…

Fantasy/Drama

This story is rated R/M.

ENIGMA

Chapter 035: The Long Way Home

There was a tense silence after Minerva and Liam left for their hotel. The storm had grown intense and they used that as an excuse to give Cedric and Jessica some space. Jessica turned her attention to Hedwig. She heated some towels and then cut up some steak into thin slices. Cedric watched pensively as she tended the ailing creature. The grateful owl nipped her arm affectionately and hooted mournfully as she let Jessica baby her.

‘Poor Wiggy – I’m sorry you’ve been out in so much mess because of me.’ Jessica said softly.

‘That’s an awful long way for her to come,’ Cedric murmured. ‘I guess he really is hurting for you…’

Jessica didn’t reply as he wrapped his arms around her from behind.

‘I wanted to believe...’ he began.

‘I know, love; so did I…’ Jessica said hoarsely as she placed a hand on his. ‘We were kidding ourselves…’

‘Yeah… we were…’

Cedric took the bottle of tonic that Jessica was holding and began to wipe Hedwig down with the cloth

‘I’ve missed home,’ he admitted. ‘It may not be perfect, but it is home. You were right – I do have a lot to be thankful for; and as long as we’re together…that’s what counts.’

‘I’ll talk to Giuseppe tomorrow…’

‘He’s going to be so upset…they all are. You did have a sort of family here…’

‘I know,’ Jessica said as she hiccupped and burst into tears.

xxxOOOxxx

‘When do you want to leave?’ Cedric asked as they cuddled together in bed. Their lovemaking had been unbelievably intense… as though their days together were numbered and the clock was ticking fast. When they finally could bear to stop the sun was beginning to peek over the horizon.

‘We can leave with Minerva and Liam…’

‘As soon as that…’

‘The last bit of the term before Christmas will start soon won’t it? And then there’s the Holiday break for that and New Years…’

‘Please come back to Hogwarts…please…’

‘We’ll see, darling. I don’t know that it’s possible. It’s all down to Dumbledore. He won’t be too pleased.’

‘He needs you too much to say ‘no’, Cedric replied through a yawn.

‘Let me sort out things here first and let us get home before I start going down that road…’

Cedric nodded as he pulled Jessica tightly into his arms and rested his chin on the top of her head. A few minutes later there was the faint snoring that told her he was fast asleep.

She wasn’t sure what she was going to tell Giuseppe, but she would do it later that day. The sooner she got it over with the better.

xxxOOOxxx

‘So, Cara, I was wondering when you would come to see me. I just didn’t expect that it would be so soon.’

Jessica’s mouth fell open in amazement and she struggled to regain her composure.

‘Marta works fast…’

‘To have your past catch up with you as you have done – I would have been surprised by anything else. You have come to say goodbye, haven’t you?’

The young woman burst into tears. ‘I’m so sorry Giuseppe… It’s… complicated… I know you invested a lot in me and now I’m letting you down.’

‘You are needed in Scotland, Cara, you always were. Remember what I told you – not every Partner remains in Venice…

Jessica’s lips formed a small ‘o’.

‘What are you saying?’ she asked after finding her voice.

‘You have a wonderful gift, Daughter. Don’t let it waste away. Even in the British Isles they love the ancient arts of Venice and Murano.’

‘A workshop?’

‘Well unless you want to go back to Hogwarts…?’

Jessica flew up out of her seat and raced for the door to Giuseppe’s office.

‘Cara calm down! Let me explain!’

‘Who the hell are you!’ Jessica bellowed as she drew her wand. ‘What the hell is going on?

‘The day your Cedric came to us he was wearing a Quidditch scarf and gloves. I’d recognise them anywhere… They had the emblem of his school House. He’s English and a student and at the school where you said you were a Librarian and your liaison began. He’s been making enquiries and I know he’s visited our equivalent of the famous Diagon Alley. He was looking at transferring to the Da Vinci School I believe… There really isn’t anything else for him here if he was to remain with you… Somehow I don’t think that being an Artisan of the Venetian crafts is for him.’

‘I don’t believe it… After all this… even now he’s interfering!’

‘What? Who?’

‘Dumbledore that’s who!’ Jessica laughed maniacally. ‘Just who the hell are you anyway!’

‘I am exactly what you believe me to be, Cara. I am a wizard; an old wizard that has seen far too much.’

‘And you’re working for Dumbledore…!’

‘I am doing no such thing; although I do believe he’s, in principle, a decent enough man. He’s certainly no Grindewald or Lord Voldemort. However, I do believe there was a lot more between he and Grindewald than either ever let on. I am that old!’

‘Jesus H. Christ.’

‘Sit down, please Cara. Let me talk to you before you go back to that metaphysical terrorist.’

‘I don’t understand it Giuseppe… Why didn’t you say something before?’

‘Say what exactly? Would it have made any difference? If anything you and your young man would have taken off for God knows where. Someone needed to look after you and thank God it was me! But at least now you see that the wizarding community outside of the British Isles is very different. We on the Continent have survived and thrived by blending into the population. We don’t separate ourselves and cling to outmoded ways of doing things. British wizards stick out like a sore thumb wherever they go because they don’t think and they are stuck with an antiquated lifestyle. Your Cedric is a nice young man and I have no doubt that his intentions are good – but he was foolish enough to make a slip like wearing a wizarding scarf and gloves. If the wrong person had seen him about like that…’

The old wizard shook his head sadly.

‘The wrong person…?’

‘Cara it is not entirely safe here. I know that you and your Cedric wanted to believe that but really it is not. What threatens one of us threatens all of us. You can run but you cannot hide! Lord Voldemort has connections all over the Continent and there were families who lost everything by siding with Dumbledore in that last war of his. The Da Vinci School has such small numbers because many Italian wizarding families think that Durmstrang has the right ideas about wizardkind and Dark Magic! They also believe, as I do, that Lord Voldemort will return. For them they are as the Americans say ‘hedging their bets.’ For Da Vinci, having a Hogwarts student leave such an elite institution as that for our little backwater – it would be a major coup for them! The Tri-Wizard Tournament is only ever about the top three wizarding schools – not those like Da Vinci. It would be a step down, a serious step down for your Cedric to come here! Surely you can understand that?’

‘Italians at Durstrang? I thought they were all Eastern European… So Liam was right?’

‘And the books never said anything about that!’ Jessica thought to herself.

‘This is the Continent Cara, we mix it up here in our schools. Hogwarts is very provincial – only ever taking students from the British Isles as you well know. There are many of us who would have given anything to be able to study under the tutelage of the Greatest Wizards of the Age and then perhaps work for your Ministry of Magic or even teach. Oh the British would say that we are no better than ‘Muggles’ earning our living this way – but these are the arts of the Veneto and it does not matter if one is a magical or not. We don’t have such a grand infrastructure as you have in Britain. Our government, such as it is, is very small. If it downsizes or even collapses – my capacity to earn a living does not change. The British, on the other hand, the majority of them work for your Ministry in one capacity or another… they loose everything. And the opportunity to teach at the elite schools does not come up that often. Most professors and teaching assistants have their roles for life or until they decide to leave and do something else. With so few guarantees these days – naturally most of them stick with the job for life even if they don’t particularly like it. I am a Da Vinci graduate myself – and the best opportunity I had was to follow in the traditions of my family. There is no shame in it.’

‘I never thought about that…’ Jessica said quietly. ‘Don’t get me wrong – I have thought about many things, but not that…’

‘Liam McKenzie. When Marta told me his name… well that was it. I knew then exactly who you all were. I did one of his father’s dearest friends a great favour in the last war… I gave the man’s eldest son sanctuary here from Voldemort’s followers. The man wouldn’t be contained in Scotland and sometimes he’s a danger to himself. His first wife and children paid for his hot-headedness with their lives because he was careless and arrogant. He’s lucky to still be alive!’

‘You what? Who..?’

‘Oh you’ve met him. It’s Matteo!’

‘Matteo??!!! He sits at his bench up here out of sight and doesn’t say ‘boo’ to a goose! He’s so… geeky and quiet! He’s a bloody Highlander???!!!’

‘See; you had no idea until I revealed it to you! I gave Matteo a home, taught him everything I know. We gave him a whole new identity. He’s got a good enough life here but he’s not happy. He’s Scottish, a Highlander – that’s his true element. You know why he doesn’t drink? He loses control then and the carefully contained Italiano and Mediterranean manners drop like a ten-tonne stone in the lagoon! But he’s always watching – looking over his back. He saw Cedric upstairs and noticed the scarf and gloves too. It frightened him, let me tell you. I had to do a lot of talking to convince him not do something foolish like go on the run without any planning. He would get himself killed long before war really breaks out. He doesn’t think and he can be very reckless. My work with him has not been easy. Fortunately he values being alive so in the end I’ve been able to force him to settle down.’

‘You say Voldemort’s name… why is that?’ Jessica asked, ignoring his pointed remarks.

‘He is evil, pure evil and yes he is very powerful; but I think that it gives him more power than he really has for us to be so afraid that we can’t even say his name. It makes a monster even more of a monster, if you catch my drift?’

‘Yes, yes I do,’ Jessica replied wearily.

‘Ours is a small community of magicals here, Cara. People do talk. Cedric spoke to enough people when he was exploring our little community so that it was easy to put two and two together. Like I said – a Hogwarts student leaving such a prestigious school for our little backwater is quite a big deal.’

‘Merlin’s beard! Word could have easily gotten back to…’

‘I’m sure that what you haven’t told me is just as interesting as what you have… but I don’t think that the news has travelled back to your British Isles. It’s not a done deal yet, Cedric hasn’t committed to anything.’

At this Jessica’s face became a stony mask. There was nothing else she was prepared to say. Giuseppe had her at a distinct disadvantage. He seemed to know a lot more about her than she knew about him, his stunning admissions notwithstanding.

‘No one that Cedric talked to conveniently mentioned who and what you are to him…’ she said accusingly.

‘Why should they? Neither I nor my shop was a topic of conversation and why should it be? He made it known that he was going to transfer here and made enquiries about the sort of opportunities that might be open to him once he finished. As I’ve told you, there aren’t many doors open to someone like him and he needs to work on being a proper Muggle. He’s blended in better than most, I will give him that. But you – you are different and we both know it. You didn’t grow up in that world. Your parents did very well with you. I had no idea that you were a magical until your Cedric turned up.’

‘Cedric, God Almighty Cedric!’ Jessica moaned.

‘You always have a home here if you need it Jessica and I will always come if you need me, so would Ines and the others,’ Giuseppe said firmly. ‘I follow events from other wizarding communities; the smart magical would do. Something is coming – and to be honest I think you are safer with the likes of Liam McKenzie. The Highland Clans… they are the reason me and my family were safe the last time and they are the reason why we have always been safe since then. Their protection and guidance is not something to ever take lightly. Promise me you will never do something so foolish as to run off as you have done ever again!’

‘I suppose you should meet Liam – that is if you haven’t already met,’ Jessica sniffed suspiciously.

‘It would be my great pleasure... ’

‘Jessica, please Cara! I know how stubborn you can be! Sometimes it pains you that someone else has all the answers and not you! Please promise me that there isn’t going to be a next time with you like this!’

Jessica fleetingly thought about the Stones. If she were to ever run again it would likely be to try and get back to her world… except there was nothing for her there except life in prison if she even managed to make it back. Voldemort’s tentacles stretched very far indeed in this world… just like Hitler’s had in War War II.

A thought occurred to her, but rather than give voice to it she vowed to do a bit of research when she was back in Scotland. With any luck she would find the answers she was looking for without having to return there, her true home here in America in this world.

‘I can promise you that I will never act again as I have…’ she said with a firm nod.

‘Good! Now if your Mr. McKenzie would allow it I would love to meet him!’

‘Giuseppe Ormessini – yet another clever wizard that doesn’t think quite as much as they think they do,’ Jessica muttered to herself as she left Ca’Macana and headed for home.

xxxOOOxxx

‘Why didn’t you say something Liam?’ Jessica demanded, red with rage. ‘How could you let me tell you I was working at Ca’Macana and not say a word?’

‘Hold your Hippogriffs there lass! If I had told ye, what difference would it have made eh? Ye’d go flying off the handle and do something daft as sure as I’m sitting here!’

‘Merlin help me, Giuseppe said the same thing…’

‘And he’d be dead right he would! Yes, he is as clever as he makes himself out to be but he’s nobody’s fool and nowhere near arrogant!’

‘So all this time I’ve been manipulated! You hypocrite – you’re just as bad as Dumbledore!’

‘Jessica I swear to you by all this is righteous and holy that I have done no such thing! I tried everything I thought of to try and find you to see if how you were! I know that Venice agrees with ye and ye have the great talent for the arts – and yes I do think your place is with your family! Your place is with the Clan McKenzie but I’m not about to force your will! Is that what ye think of me – after all this?’

Jessica frumped down on the sofa and began to weep. Cedric sat down next to her and pulled her into his arms.

‘If you tell me that you have nothing to do with this, I will take your word as a man of honour, Mr. McKenzie,’ the Hufflepuff said respectfully. ‘I know that for a Highlander a man’s word is everything.’

‘I do solemnly swear, Cedric. I would never, ever, manipulate anyone that way! I have not come forward with all that I’ve divined, that is true. But ye understand why it was necessary.’

‘I do,’ Cedric said hoarsely as he held Jessica and rubbed her back. She was inconsolable at the thought that somehow she’d been a pawn in a very dangerous game. Trust was something she struggled with and her lack of trust meant that she didn’t always do what was best for her own sake.

‘You know the Law, Cedric. You know it and should understand it far better than Jessica. Please explain it to her fully…’

‘Jess,’ Cedric said gently as he lifted her tear-streaked face up and smoothed her hair back. ‘Look at me, please.’

Jessica screwed up her face tightly and tried to stop crying but it was no use. Cedric took her back into his arms and began to speak.

‘As you know The Law basically says that only those things that are meant to be can happen. Bottom line: if it’s meant to be it will be. With magic it’s three-fold, the efficacy of spell-casting depends on (1) the intentions of the spell-caster, (2) the nature of the spell itself and (3) the will of the person it’s cast on. For example…say you wanted to cast a love spell on someone. But, they were particularly strong-willed or maybe the don’t set store in such things. Perhaps they have no real interest in you whatsoever. The love spell won’t work as it’s meant to on a person who isn’t open to that kind of magical influence. However, if it does work it will be because something will come out of it that needed to happen. The result of it may in fact have only been attainable through the act of casting the spell. As for the person casting it or one who involves themselves in such misdeeds, a spell to make a person act against their free will and against Divine will means that there will be a spiritual and magical price to pay. Magic is a part of Spirit and vice-versa. Therefore, anyone using magic to manipulate people or situations, essentially going against what is holy and right to suit their own selfish ends causes a great disruption in the natural order of things. And only someone supremely arrogant would do such a thing even if they tried to justify it in the name of the greater good. Merlin help them if the greater good has nothing to do with it. Most Muggles don’t set store in magic to begin with and they are disconnected from Spirit – that’s why spell casting for them more often than not does not yield anything but a lot of unnecessary bad luck. For a witch or wizard – well we are magical people. We live it, study it. It is a part of us and we are a part of it. We may not agree with the casting of certain spells, but they will work for us on us just the same; however, it depends – as I said. What was it that you told me about Christian beliefs… that Christ said that you can judge a tree by the fruit it bears? The same applies here: you can tell a lot about the intentions of magical practices and the practioner by the results of it.’

Cedric looked up at Liam and Minerva who both nodded their approval and then he continued.

‘Understanding that, we can apply it here like this: It seems Mr. McKenzie is blessed with a great gift. So are you – that much is obvious. The gift of true sight is not something to take lightly and one must act responsibly with it. You two are given particular insights, yes, but it does not mean that you need to do something about everything that comes to you – and it also doesn’t mean that it’s for anyone else to know.’ Cedric continued. ‘This is the thing with a lot of magical people and especially Muggles who try to play around with magic: the knowledge in and of itself is never enough for them; they always have to go off and do something with it. The smart wizard or witch is discerning; knowing when and when not to act and it should never be personal motivation that motivates action or inaction.

Now, we know that some things are so unforgivable you can end up in Azkaban. There are a lot of magical practices that aren’t borne of good intentions, that’s a fact. But when they work, there is a Higher reason for them to do so even if it doesn’t make any sense. After all, it is in accordance with Divine will that we have knowledge of these things in the first place. Mr McKenzie is in a difficult position. He is blessed with gifts many would sell their soul for; he has untold power at his disposal. If he were a different type of man, the sort that didn’t care about others as he ought, we wouldn’t be having this discussion. But he is given insight for a reason and it seems he makes the best possible decisions that he can for everyone’s sake. He knows all too well that he has too much to loose by doing anything other that what is proper, both practically and spiritually.’

‘I do believe you have the makings of a mighty fine wizard, Mr. Diggory,’ Minerva observed with a penetrating look as she nodded her agreement.

‘So it’s kind of like the Three-Fold Law that pagans often speak of,’ said Jessica. ‘Whatever you do magically will come back on you three-fold, for good or ill… What goes around, comes around; it’s Karma...’

‘Exactly. It’s why Dumbledore’s actions have had the opposite effect of what he intended, Jessica,’ Liam said gravely. ‘He is a wizard who has abused sacred knowledge. He truly believes that he is doing the right thing for exceptional reasons. However, there are no exceptional reasons here; just an exceptional young lady who possesses unprecedented knowledge – you. As Cedric has told ye, a different type of person could take what ye know and create a powerbase the likes of which has never been seen. Dumbledore wouldn’t be where he is or done the things he’s done without marshalling power. It’s no disrespect to admit it, but it is the truth. All great people have some semblance of ruthlessness about them when they set their mind to it. Ye could do things the likes of which are inconceivable. But ye do not. It’s people around ye who are tempted by what ye represent. The Headmaster has weaknesses just like any other man. I believe that in some ways ye are one such weakness. The fight against Lord Voldemort may be a just one, but the envisioned end does not always justify the means to get there. Dumbledore is going to make more mistakes before all is said and done. I just hope the price to be paid is not too high.’

‘What about you, Liam.’ Jessica asked slowly. ‘Have you never been tempted to use me?’

‘Liam McKenzie is not one of those people,’ Cedric said firmly. ‘I’m sure of that if I’m not sure of anything else… Thanks to Professor Dumbledore the very people who would stop at nothing to use what you are, are now aware of you Jessica even if they don’t have all the facts. I’m sure I don’t have all the facts either, but I do know what Lucius Malfoy is like and I know that he denied a lot of crimes against wizardkind in the last war putting it down to the Imperius. You don’t need to divination to know that he has no good intentions, none whatsoever. It’s not over with him, not by a long shot.’

‘And it certainly won’t be if his Lord and Master is on the ascendancy again,’ Liam added. ‘Yes, I am curious about your world Jessica. But the more of it I hear from ye the more I am grateful for the life I have in my own, however complicated it may seem to ye.’

The Highlander removed a Celtic dagger from his belt and sliced his wrist. ‘I swear by my blood and all that is divine in the sight of the Goddess and God that I bear ye no ill will nor have I any negative intentions towards ye. Ye have my sacred vow this day in front of these witnesses as well as the Divine that I will never, ever break the promises I have made to ye nor will I ever use ye. I may be Laird, Sister, but we are equals always.’

Before Jessica could react Liam sliced her wrist and clasped her arm so that their wrists touched. There was a tingling sensation and then a bright gold light surrounded them.

‘He can give you no more assurance than that, Jessica,’ Cedric said slowly, clearly in awe. ‘He would be signing his own death warrant to break that vow. It’s a binding magical contract – of the most serious kind…’

‘Tell me truly husband,’ Minerva asked hesitantly after a moment of contemplative silence. ‘Do ye really believe that it’s more than just Death Eaters flexing their muscle a bit? Do ye know that You-Know-Who is to return?’

‘Why else would Dumbledore take that viper into his bosom as he has done for these many years – and ignore the character of the man and what he did to earn his stripes?’ Liam replied sharply.

‘As he always says, that is between him and Severus Snape. And he trusts Severus Snape,’ Jessica said angrily as she stood up. ‘Cedric and I are leaving with you day after tomorrow. There’s no point in staying here.’

Jessica went into the kitchen, where they could hear her pottering about as she began to prepare their dinner.

‘I better go help her; excuse me please,’ Cedric said as he left the room. ‘She was already fairly wound up as it is having to send the owl back...’

‘Liam,’ Minerva whispered after Cedric had disappeared from view, ‘I don’t think she’ll ever recover from…’

‘Leave it be, Minerva! We have to leave it be and let it unfold as it must; that is our burden to bear, not hers!’

xxxOOOxxx

Giuseppe and Ines came for dinner and brought Elio along. Their son was so upset to be losing the woman who had been like the sister to him and both the Elder Ormessinis despaired of losing the only daughter that they would ever have. But the truth was out, as much of the truth as Jessica, Cedric, Liam and Minerva dared to allow. They still needed to be careful, but at least there was no skirting any reference to the wizarding world any more.

‘In the last war the shop was a great cover for all manner of rebellious activities,’ Ines said pointedly. ‘We carried on with our trade and nobody knew. The biggest worry was Matteo, bless him.’

‘I did go along and have a word with him – that was my little walk before dinner,’ Liam said. ‘He’s got a hot head alright and this is the best place for him right now. It wouldn’t take much from Lucius Malfoy or Severus Snape to set him off. I’ve gotten him to agree to another binding.’

‘Ahhh the Malfoys – I am ashamed to admit that I made the acquaintance of old Ignatius Malfoy many years ago. It sounds like Lucius is a chip off his grandfather’s block. This Snape – I remember reading something about him at the time of the trials; Dumbledore got him exonerated,’ said Giuseppe. ‘And you say Matteo’s been bound again? Good work young man. There’s been whispering you know – about that demon of yours coming back to plague us all. It’s gotten him quite wound up.’

‘Aye that it has and I can’t say I blame him. I’ve faced Voldemort three times myself and I don’t doubt that I have the Almighty with me, indeed I do!’ Liam said with a shudder.

‘Wait – you got him to agree to be bound?’ Jessica asked incredulously.

‘Of course – did ye not take anything on board that was put to ye earlier?’ Liam said, giving Jessica a look like what cabbage patch did she just roll out of.

‘I thought the whole thing about binding people is that it’s against their will, usually in the interests of the so-called their greater good?’

‘The man has given his permission, agreeing fully and without any pressure from me or anyone else, that binding him again is the best thing to do for his own sake as much as for the sake of others. That, dear little sister, is in full agreement with Divine will.’

‘But how do you know Liam? We’ll be long gone before we’re likely to see any fallout from that spell…’

‘Fallout?? Girl, do ye not know about the different types of bindings there are and how to divine if what ye propose to do is proper and just?’

‘Err… Sev… someone tried to tell me about that once but I was a bit… hormonal…’

‘Merlin Almighty what you don’t know would fill half of the Hogwarts Library,’ Giuseppe said exasperatedly.

‘Giuseppe – behave!’ Ines scolded her husband. ‘Jessica hasn’t had the advantages of being brought up as a proper Witch, remember? Sounds like the progress she’s made so far has been very good indeed considering being raised like a ‘Muggle’! But yes Jessica dear, you do need to get back to studying that much is obvious. You are in great hands with the Highlanders believe me!’

‘Gee – thanks!’ Jessica huffed as she banged her glass of wine down on the table, causing the glass to crack.

‘See – another hot-head…’ Giuseppe pointed out, giving Jessica a look before he repaired it with his wand.

‘More like a slow boil, but we’ll work on that,’ Liam commented.

‘I want to go with you!’ Elio blurted out.

‘Say what?’ Jessica coughed.

‘I want to go with you! There’s no point to me staying here! You can set up the first Ca’Macana workshop in the British Isles and I’ll come work for you!’ the youngest Ormessini blurted out at last. He’d not said a single word so far and just sat looking forlorn like the world was coming to a swift end.

‘She’ll return to the Library at Hogwarts and…’ Cedric began.

‘That is actually not a bad idea, Elio,’ Liam said as he leaned back and stroked his chin. ‘You could set up a workshop right there in Hogsmeade, Jessica. Then no one would have anything to say about your relationship with Cedric once you return should the truth of it ever come out. As far as anyone else would know, you two got together after you returned, not before. They don’t have to like it, but no one could accuse you of any impropriety outright. It would save both of you the torture my Minerva and I went through. And no one could say anything about the fact that Cedric was one of those who gave evidence to the Board of Governors in support of you against Lucius Malfoy!’

‘I agree actually. In the beginning it was best for you to remain at Hogwarts where we could protect you and ease you into life in our little world; you had quite an adjustment to make after the British Library,’ Minerva said blithely. ‘Elio here is a wizard and so is Cedric and given what you’ve already mastered; there is no need to bind you to the castle any more. We should be able sort out all kinds of enchantments to keep the likes of Lucius Malfoy from your door!’

‘Bind? You don’t mean…!’ Jessica spluttered.

‘Aye, that I do. It was Dumbledore’s doing not mine,’ Minerva snapped ‘And we can all see how that worked, can’t we…!’

‘Bloody Hell!’ Cedric gasped. He never would have believed that Albus Dumbledore, the Greatest Wizard of the Age, could get things so incredibly wrong.

‘Now ye see, little sister, now ye see what happens when the Law is broken!’ Liam said as he took Jessica’s hands in his.

Minerva began to speak but Jessica was distracted.

‘The Tournament,’ Liam said to her silently in her head so that only she could hear. ‘I know that ye have feared it greatly and I know why ye have that fear. It was your curse to come into this world with the awareness ye have, but ye can only let whatever is meant to happen, happen. Try to understand that even just a little? We will be here for ye regardless of the outcome, every step of the way!’

‘I know, but I’m so bloody scared,’ came Jessica’s reply in a faint whisper as she realised the implications of returning to Scotland.

Something was asserting itself in her and she was uneasy from the shock of it. Yes, it was yet another Ravenclaw gift she had mastered. It was the same gift that Rowena Ravenclaw had bequeathed to generations of the Clan McKenzie in this world; and Nanticoke in the Otherworld. But Jessica didn’t know any of that – not yet.

‘I know ye are, lass; but ye have us to get you through it all.’

‘All?’

‘That which is yet to come…’

‘Is it as bad as all that?’

No response was needed as Jessica reviewed the events of Books 4, 5 and 6 in her head.

xxxOOOxxx

Two days later everyone was packed and on their way back to Scotland. They could have taken a portkey from Venice, but decided that the local wizarding community there had had enough to talk about as it was. Giuseppe started the rumour that someone else had started a rumour that a prize student was leaving Hogwarts for the Da Vinci School. Anything that seems too good to be true inevitably is; and so with a bit of influence from the Ormessinis everyone that had actually met Cedric had no lasting memory of him. No one was sure where any of the rumours came from, but yes it was scandalous to get everyone’s hopes up about some unknown Brit (even if people should have known better that to believe such a fairy story as that).

xxxOOOxxx

‘Venice is mighty beautiful, but it sure feels good to be home,’ Liam said with a sigh as he, Minerva, Jessica, Cedric and Elio sat in his and Minerva’s large kitchen over hot mugs of tea and scones dripping with melted butter and jam.

They had decided to take it easy their first day or so back. Now it was time to get the ball rolling on the fact that Jessica had returned.

‘It really is lovely here,’ Elio sighed as he looked out the large windows and drank in the rolling hills. It was beginning to snow and wind had picked up a bit.

‘So ye have taken a shining to our fair McKenzie lands have ye laddie?’ Liam asked, beaming with pride.

‘Yes – I can see why you are so happy to be back! The landscape here – she is quite dramatic!’

‘So, Cedric; what happened when you spoke to your parents this morning?’ asked Jessica. He’d only just returned from his house. He’d insisted on preparing it first; he wanted it to be special for her.

‘Nothing out of the ordinary; they were glad I enjoyed my break and hoped I wasn’t too lonely in the house all by myself. They haven’t actually seen it or even know where I am really. They gave me a bit of money to help me get it. We were going to go over everything and they would come to see it over the Holidays. Dad’s tied up at the Ministry right now and Mum has her hands full with that Committee thing of hers…so “everything is a bit up in the air”.’

It was hard not to sound resentful, but he was feeling a bit put out that all this time away from his family hadn’t motivated anyone to make time for him.

‘Nevermind, it works to our advantage, doesn’t it?’ Cedric said, looking at Jessica and failing to hide his disappointment.

‘Come lad, get your woman to her new home and we’ll show Elio to his...’

‘Aye… I mean yes,’ Cedric replied as he blushed. It was hard not to be influenced by this environment.

Everyone donned heavy winter capes and coats and made their way to their respective destinations.

Jessica’s breath was taken away as she looked across the gently undulating landscape as she drove the new utility vehicle she purchased upon their return. Soon they were rolling down a rather crooked road through a cluster of buildings that had probably seen better days. Cedric directed Jessica towards a rather homely looking place. It seemed that there wouldn’t be much of a view with the house nestled amongst other buildings. The rear garden backed onto to a deserted house. It could have been worse; at least they weren’t living in the equivalent to the Shrieking Shack.

‘Do you like it?’ Cedric asked nervously.

‘It’s lovely!’ Jessica said quickly as she pulled up outside the gate.

‘Your car can’t stay outdoors in this freezing weather…’ Cedric commented. He waved his wand and the cottage adjusted itself to include a garage that wasn’t entirely in keeping with the house. ‘I knew I had forgotten something…’

He sprinted to the front door and unlocked it. Jessica watched as the lower floor blazed with light and he came jogging back. Before she could comment he lifted her in his arms.

‘To hell with waiting for our wedding night!’ he grinned.

‘You are bonkers!’ his girlfriend laughed. ‘But I love you; I love you so much Cedric…’

They began to kiss and then pulled away reluctantly. Cedric carried the woman he loved across the threshold and closed the door behind them.

‘I’m sorry it’s not much…’ he began. ‘I made some adjustments…’

‘It’s perfect, love.’ Jessica assured him after they walked down a hallway into their sitting room. ‘You’ve done quite alright for yourself.

Cedric gave Jessica the grand tour of the ground floor. The house turned out to be much larger inside than it looked from the outside and she was sure that he’d used magic to alter it. There was an eat-in kitchen that overlooked the rather ghostly house whose garden backed onto theirs. There were a few trees near the house that would help to keep the house cool in the summer. The summer; if Cedric was even alive then…

‘Please… whatever it is that makes you so sad, don’t think of it my love,’ he whispered as a rogue tear rolled down Jessica’s cheek.

Jessica sniffed and nodded, savouring the warmth of his lips on hers and his arms holding her tight.

‘Let’s go to bed… please…’ she whispered tentatively.

Cedric nodded and they made their way upstairs. There was plenty of time to get acquainted with their home in the time they had left before the first part of the winter term began at Hogwarts.

xxxOOOxxx

Cedric and Jessica began to settle in to their new life together. They reviewed everything with Minerva and he was going to have to board at Hogwarts. There were no other options in that regard. He could return to her some weekends, so they could take some solace in that. He was a Prefect, however, and with that went a great deal of responsibility. He wouldn’t really be free to be with her until his education was complete.

Whether or not anyone became aware of their situation would be entirely up to them. Jessica and Cedric thought about it and decided that the best thing they could do for themselves was to not make their relationship public. Cedric’s parents would have to know eventually, but the fact that they were so occupied with matters other than their son made the decision quite easy where they were concerned.

Jessica was able to take the furniture out of storage that she’d furnished her flat with in Bath. She fleetingly thought that at one time she would have expected to be doing this with Severus. Clearly it was not meant to be. What she and Cedric didn’t have in the way of her things they were able to get second-hand. Some things they were able to get, being mindful of budgeting. But the extended McKenzie clan gave them quite a bit as well. ‘And when others settle down ye’ll be able to do the same in kind. That’s how it works,’ Liam told them.

They turned their attention to Jessica’s new enterprise and looked at the few commercial premises available in Hogsmeade. There was a quaint timber and stone building with a traditional Scottish slate roof that would be perfect for the new Ca’Macana workshop in a lane that ran off the High Street. It turned out that it was being sold by Madame Rosmerta’s brother Llewellyn. He was glad to be selling it to someone they knew, someone who would take care of the place and do something good for the town. Liam purchased the property in his name and then sold it on to Jessica. In purchasing the premises from him Jessica had tapped into a considerable part of her savings from Venice and Hogwarts. But at least she could make her way on her own without being beholden to Albus Dumbledore.

She began to feel like her life was hers to lead for a change.

xxxOOOxxx

Elio and Jessica settled into getting the workshop ready with gusto with the help of the others. Elio had been worried that the rough-and-ready Highlanders wouldn’t take kindly to ‘someone like him’. He made the remark to Liam who scolded him soundly. ‘D’ye think we don’t have gays here laddie? Believe me that’ll be the least of your worries! A good looking lad like you will have your fair share to fight off! Just watch out for the Missus – she loves a good handfasting!’ Minerva was playing matchmaker between Elio and a strapping McKenzie cousin named Fergal. Fergal was conveniently making himself indispensable in helping to get the workshop ready and there was no doubt in anyone’s mind that Elio hadn’t wasted any time. It was a welcome distraction in many ways and kept Jessica from obsessing over what was to happen now that they were back in Scotland and Cedric was returning to Hogwarts.

This shop would be much like the the one in Venice. They would craft and sell masks, costumes and glasswares including jewelry. Fergal would be around to help man the till in the main atelier and put his knowledge of Celtic design to use. Jessica planned on including them in their work and this would ensure that a number of their owns offerings were quite unique from those they imported from Italy and those they would market as ‘traditional’. Fortunately it didn’t take them very long to get everything organised. There was something to be said for magic, Jessica commented as she finally manoeuvred the Ca’Macana sign into place and stepped back to admire it all.

‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this happy before,’ Liam commented. ‘It’s a great thing to see lass. You are beautiful, but especially when you smile.’

‘That she is,’ Cedric said beaming as he strolled up to them and put his arms around her from behind.

‘How was it?’ she asked nervously as she pulled him into the shop and drew the night shutters. Cedric had been contacting some of his friends and met up with a few in London.

‘Fine. No one had any idea I’d been abroad and I didn’t tell them. As far as they are concerned I spent my holiday in Cornwall preparing for exams and then in London getting some more things for the next term…’ Cedric sighed.

‘Had there been any talk about Jessica?’ Liam asked.

‘Not much… the situation with the Tournament is all anyone’s talking about. The Delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang have to stay on until everything is resolved; and by all indications it’s far from it.’

Jessica didn’t reply as she flicked a switch inside the shop. Christmas lights blazed in glorious colours washing over the window displays. It may be a bit soon for them but it still looked nice just the same.

‘Focus your mind on the shop and nevermind about that Tournament,’ Liam advised her quietly before having one last look around inside and finalising the security charms.

There was no point in worrying about something that one didn’t have all the facts about…and things that hadn’t actually happened yet.

xxxOOOxxx

Because he was already in Scotland it made no sense for Cedric to go back down to London only to come back again. Instead he would Apparate to Hogsmeade. He had known that it would be painful to leave Jessica, but he did not know that it would hurt so much. He found himself memorising every detail about her down to how she felt in his arms when he held her as their time together dwindled down to this last moment. It was time for him to return to Hogwarts.

‘I wish you were coming back too…’ he said hoarsely as they stood outside in the pouring rain.

‘It would just make it even more worse, love, you know that. We wouldn’t be able to help ourselves and that would be wrong. At least we have something to look forward to.’

Cedric nodded and swallowed hard.

‘I can come to you in Hogsmeade…’

‘No unnecessary risks – you insisted…’

Jessica wrapped her arms around him, holding him tight. ‘Now go on… I’ll be fine,’ she admonished him.

‘If you need me… for anything… don’t hesitate…’

‘I will, I promise…’

It was Jessica’s turn to memorise. Her fingers lingered over his lips and Cedric kissed them before cupping her face in his hands. Both were thankful it was raining; the beads of moisture washed away their tears.

Jessica took a deep breath and stepped back. Cedric Disapparated with a loud crack and she made her way back inside the house, wondering if they had done the right thing.

Only time would tell what the future held for them.