Mask of Oblivion

MASK OF OBLIVION

Chapter 2 - Professor Black

It was a typical day at the office for Simon, extremely busy and demanding. He had almost forgotten about the letter by the time he left to go home that afternoon. As he approached his own front door he suddenly recalled the most unusual and unpleasant event from the morning.

As he pushed open the front door, Bella came barreling at him out of the living room and. wrapped him in a big hug. "Daddy, daddy, you're home at last."

He hugged her back and smiled down at her. "That's a lovely warm welcome Bella, what's up?" he asked as they walked arm in arm into the kitchen, where Anne was staring to prepare dinner.

"Just wondering if you've thought anymore about the letter from Hogwarts?"

Simon's face instantly dropped into a dark scowl. Anne gave her daughter a worried look from the other side of the room. Simon composed himself quickly, trying in vain to hide his feelings of aggravation and apprehension. "I thought we had agreed that it was some kind of a joke, why are you bringing the subject up again?"

"Dad, I've been thinking about it and I don't think it's a joke. And besides, the professor will be coming tonight. It said so."

Simon looked at her angrily and shook his head in exasperation. "I'll be upstairs in my study reading the paper. Call me when dinner's ready."

He had barely got to the top of the stairs when the doorbell rang. From where he was standing on the top landing it was possible to see people in the hall without being seen yourself. So he stopped there and waited. Anne came out of the kitchen to answer the door followed very closely by an excited Bella.

"Good afternoon Mrs. Smith. I am Professor Sirius Black of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. May I come in?" said a deep masculine voice.

"Of course. Please come in Professor," said Anne, "Isabella received the letter this morning. We weren't sure what to make of it."

"You probably thought it was some sort of joke, I suppose."

"Well, yes."

A man stepped into the well lit hall. Simon could see him quite clearly from his vantage point near the top of the stairs. Sirius Black was about his own height but a bit more solidly built. He had black hair streaked with gray neatly cut to collar length and a mustache and neatly trimmed short beard.

It was his clothes that were very unusual. He wore a dark green garment that looked like a cross between a coat and a cloak with a V-neck, long sleeves and no front opening which came down to his knees. He did not appear to be wearing a shirt underneath. From this angle Simon could not see if he was wearing trousers, but he could see the knee-high black boots, patterned so that they could have been made from crocodile or snake skin. Although in Simon's opinion it would have to be a very big snake.

He appeared to be a reasonably average middle aged man, if somewhat oddly dressed, but for no obvious reason something about him made Simon feel very wary and the feeling of apprehension grew stronger.

"And this lovely young lady would have to be Isabella. I am very pleased to meet you." Sirius Black bowed and smiled and Bella grinned back.

Anne showed him into the living room. "Professor do please take a seat and I will just go and find my husband. I am sure he will not want to miss this discussion."

"Of course Mrs. Smith. Our aim at Hogwarts is to be sure that both parents understand and agree to what we are trying to do for their children. Mr. Smith must be present during our discussion. And please call me Sirius."

Anne looked at him curiously. "In that case call me Anne."

Sirius and Bella went into the living room and Anne came over to the foot of the stairs and looked straight up. "I know you are there, you might as well come down and be civil," she hissed, trying to keep her voice low but loud enough so that Simon could hear, "I get the impression he won't go until he has spoken to both of us anyway."

Simon slowly and reluctantly started to descend. "I suppose the only way to find out what sort of nutters send letters like that is to talk to him."

Anne smiled at him before turning to precede him into the living room. "Exactly. So let's do that." She went in front of him into the room. "Sirius. I would like you to meet my husband, Simon Smith."

Simon entered the room trying to make his face look as neutral as possible, with his hand extended to shake the professor's hand. The man turned to look at him and as soon as he caught sight of Simon the smile completely dropped from his face to be replaced for just a few moments with a look of absolute shock and astonishment. This indication of recognition sent a nasty shiver down Simon's spine. Then just as suddenly the emotions were masked and the look on Sirius Black's face was as neutral as the one on Simon's own.

"We'd better all sit down, don't you think?" Anne said with a forced cheeriness, obviously puzzled by the sudden tension in the room. The two men in front of her looked at each other in a kind of frosty stalemate.

"I'll just go and make some tea. Please do make yourself comfortable Sirius."

"Professor?" Bella was bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet. In her excitement she was apparently oblivious to the tension.

"Yes, Isabella?" Sirius Black turned towards her and his mouth managed to twitch into half a smile.

"Where is Hogwarts and what sorts of subjects will I study?"

Sirius raised his hand in a silencing motion, "I think we should wait until your mother gets back. Then I don't have to repeat everything."

Simon backed into his usual leather armchair and indicated with a wave that his guest should sit on the lounge. He watched with growing uneasiness as the professor sat down and then commenced to study Simon's face intently.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Simon asked bluntly.

The other man dropped his eyes for a moment. "It is just that you are, well you look like, someone I used to know. Have you ever been to Scotland?"

Simon decided immediately that this was a really odd question, but he answered it anyway.

"No, never. At least not that I recall."

And at that both men remained silent until Anne returned with the tea tray and Anne and Bella sat down. Anne sat in the other chair and Bella sat on the far end of the lounge with her legs tucked up under her, looking at the Professor. Sirius Black leaned forward, appeared to give himself a mental shake, and then turned to Bella.

"Do you have the letter, Isabella?"

Bella pulled the letter out of her shorts pocket. "Of course, Sir."

"Good. Now the first thing I need all of you to understand is that this is not a joke. Magic exists and when it comes to proper training for all people with magical ability, we the staff at Hogwarts are deadly serious. Most witches & wizards are born into families where one or both parents are magical. But every year in Britain and Ireland there is about half a dozen children born to muggles, sorry, non magical parents who have the ability to perform magic. We believe it is vitally important that these children, such as Isabella, have the same training as the others."

Simon scowled in disbelief. "Then how come we have never heard of this school before?"

At that comment Sirius Black's face became very serious. "Historically the general community at large has, how can I put this, not been particularly kind to members of the magical section of society. So we keep ourselves well hidden to avoid the kinds of persecution that have occurred in the past. Most people are unaware that the wizarding community even exists. But at the highest levels of His majesty's government they are well aware of us and we have their full support."

At this Simon's eyes flashed. "Prove it."

And from somewhere within his voluminous coat Sirius Black produced a document for Simon to read. It was very official letter stating that Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was the only establishment in Great Britain authorized to train witches & wizards and countersigned by both the present home secretary and a Mr. M Fletcher, Minister of Magic.

Simon felt his stomach drop, but he managed to hide the unaccountable nervousness behind a sardonic sneer. "Well, that certainly looks authentic."

"That is because it is authentic, Simon."

At this point Simon suddenly stood up, glanced at Bella and then stared pointedly at Sirius Black. "And what happens if we decide that we don't want our daughter to go to this witch school because we would rather she got a proper education?"

Sirius Black's eyes widened a little in surprise and then narrowed as he stood up and glared back at Simon. Simon got the feeling that the man in front of him could be very dangerous and was certainly not to be trifled with.

"I know that would be a very unwise decision on your part. We have found from experience that it is extremely perilous to have untrained witches and wizards running around the country."

"So, you are saying we really have no choice in the matter. What if Bella doesn't want to go?"

"But I do Dad. I really do!" Bella jumped up and grabbed her father's hand.

"That doesn't seem to be an issue then," Sirius Black said in a very brusque tone, "I shall come back in two days time to assist you in purchasing Isabella's school supplies."

Having said this, the professor turned and strode quickly out into the hall where he turned to face them. Anne and Bella had followed him and were standing in the doorway. He bowed and smiled.

"It has been a pleasure to meet you all and I shall see you on Friday morning." He then lifted his head and gazed with sudden fierce intensity over Anne's shoulder to where Simon was still standing in the middle of the living room.

"Good day, Mr. Smith? I am sure we shall meet again."

Simon did not have time to respond, because as soon as he finished speaking the professor disappeared completely with a soft 'pop'.