Prophecy

Prophecy, 2^nd Year.

Chapter one

Albus Dumbledore looked around the Hall as Professor McGonagall ushered the first years in for the Sorting Ceremony. He was mildly surprised to see that the Evans or Chimera had not pulled any pranks yet. After the near daily chaos of their first year, he was halfway expecting them to have started with the pranks already. He looked at the already seated returning students. Unlike the years of the Voldemort War, all of his students were back this year. Albus still felt a slight regret that he had missed the departure of Fred and George Weasley. From all accounts, they had made one of the more dramatic exits from Hogwarts.

Professor Dumbledore watched the Sorting, while keeping an eye on Chimera. James was evaluating each new student, and from the looks on Rose and Melissa's faces, they were using their talents to read the students as well. Professor Dumbledore saw the looks and flurry of hand signals passed to the Ravenclaw table after "Sun Tzu, May-ling" was sorted there. He made a mental note to find out what was so interesting about a Muggle born Asian Witch from London.

After the Sorting, the Headmaster made the announcements. The Forbidden Forest is just that, Mr. Fitch has added more things to his forbidden list, entire list in his office, all those announcements that happened every year. This year though, he had an addition. There would be a Halloween Ball for the third year and up students. With all that said, let's eat.

James was thinking about the new Ravenclaw. Given that he was in a foreign country, engaged in training and funding a para-military force of Wizards, in violation of probably a million Ministry of Magic rules, James was seriously paranoid. The young girl, May-ling Sun Tzu had the name of one of the greatest strategists of all time. That was interesting, but not important. What was important was that she could not be touched with Melissa's Empathy, or Rose's Sight. Trying to touch her with magic was impossible, and that made the Noid in James very nervous. He scribbled a note on a piece of paper to ask the Headmaster what he knew about May-ling.

James spared a glance for Drake Rohan, a new Hufflepuff that could be a friend or an enemy according to Rose's Sight. James was going to make sure that those two were at the top of Jerrick's list tomorrow. James smiled at the thought of Jerrick's files. Tiffany, James and Jerrick were the only people in Hogwarts that knew Jerrick had a file on every being in Hogwarts, right down to the Ghosts and House elves. James was paranoid for a reason; Jerrick had learned professional Paranoia at his father's feet. Adrian Clearwater had been, and still was the Head of Auror Intelligence. Jerrick even had a file on himself.

"Yeah, but can we trust his file?" Tiffany was laughing at his thoughts. For an instant, James let himself consider the fact that Jerrick could take out or insert anything that ended up in the files. "James, relax. You have Rose and Melissa to keep tabs on all the Manticores, even Jerrick." James sighed, and scanned the Manticores out of habit.

No matter what house they were in, or what team, the Manticores were easy to spot. A long summer of heavy PT and harder training made them much more physically fit than the rest of the students, and they had an air about them of self-confidence. That, and the fact that all the Manticores had fallen into Chimera's habit of sitting at the far ends of the tables made them easy to find. James began thinking of what they'd be doing this year, and he had to grin suddenly.

Lisa Malfoy was not a morning person, and her reaction to having to get up an hour and a half before breakfast to do the daily PT had been amusing to anyone that didn't live in her room. Lisa had been known to hex happy people who came in her sight before breakfast. James and Alexander had introduced her to the joys of coffee over the summer, and now, you only had to avoid her until the first cup was gone.

Tiffany, who was an incurable morning person, was already planning to get Dobby to deliver a pot of coffee to Lisa every morning. Last year, James had been forced to fly in the girl's room window to release Tiffany from a dozen different hexes. He could have flown up the stairs, but using the window eliminated the chances of running into a non-Manticore girl in the hallway.

James was trying to figure out how to ask Professor Dumbledore for a meeting after the meal without letting everybody know about it, when he had a thought. During the first year, the Professor had known about things that nobody told him. James had considered the problem, and the most likely way for the professor to find out what was going on, was a spell, or series of spells that allowed the Headmaster to listen to any conversation in Hogwarts. Since there could be dozens of conversations going at any given time, there had to be some sort of trigger that brought a conversation to his attention. James decided to test his theory.

"I know this is cheating, Professor Dumbledore, but I need to see you after dinner." James spoke low enough that Tiffany wasn't sure she'd heard him at all. James watched the Professor, and was not surprised when the headmaster looked his way, and nodded slightly. What did surprise James was the Professor using the Manticorian hand sign for Rally, and the one for 2200. James sat back and considered these two bits of information. Professor Dumbledore could hear any conversation he chose to, and he knew the hand signs.

"Rose, we need some anti-eavesdropping spells in the Hall as soon as we can find the spell Dumbledore is using." Rose rolled her eyes at James.

"Why? All he has to do is ask if there is something he wants to know about Manticore." Rose was certain that was a waste of time.

"Two reasons, Sister mine, first, I want to be certain nobody else can use those spells. Second, the idea of anyone listening to me and Tiffany late at night gives me the creeps."

"And what are you two doing that you don't want anyone listening to?" Rose inquired, in a tone that said she thought she knew already.

"Not that, you know I like to brainstorm out loud, and I don't want all our secrets floating in the air for anyone that can use that spell."

Rose finally agreed to look into it, or have Emily do it. James went back to thinking about all the things they had to do this year, until he was elbowed from both sides at once. He pushed down the instant anger, and looked at his twin, and Tiffany. "It's first night, save some work for tomorrow." The thought was a joint sending from both the girls. Rose's tone was sarcastic, while Tiffany's was merely exasperated.

"I've already started playing, can't I do some work?" Tiffany of course, already knew what he was talking about. Rose looked at him.

She spoke aloud, but in a low tone. "What do you mean James?"

James grinned, and made an elaborate display of checking his watch. "You'll find out in 9 minutes," he said.

Rose checked her watch. It was nine minutes to nine. "Who's going to get it, and what prank is it?"

"I don't know who all is going to get it, but the prank is a variant on our 'color capers' disk." James was watching his watch, and the crowd with an air of anticipation.

Rose had a sudden premonition. James, how did you activate it?"

"I didn't. I didn't even touch it. Did you notice the free samples of candy on the train?"

Rose groaned. "Please tell me those aren't ours?"

"Well, yes they are." James said, looking surprised. "I thought it was about time the Green Flower had some candy pranks, and Gemstone Color Candies looked like a good first offering." The Gemstone Color Candies were in various jewel shapes and colors, and made of a hard candy you could suck on for hours. The fact that you would turn the color of your candy was merely a fun bonus.

"James, I think everyone on the Train tried at least one." Rose paused significantly. Including Professors Moody and Snape."

James froze, and his eyes went from his watch to the Staff table. He opened the link to Chimera, and poured the story down the link. "Does anyone know if Professor Moody has a sense of humour? I already know Professor Snape is not going to be happy."

Rose grinned at her brother. "I think you're about to find out Brother mine."

James checked his watch again, and watched the minute hand move over the twelve. He looked up in time to see the entire room explode into color. Anybody that had just one of the candies was a solid shade of whatever color he or she had eaten. If you'd eaten two or more, you were vertically striped, in as many colors as you had eaten. One poor fellow at the Hufflepuff table was six different colors.

James looked up at the head table. Professor Moody was solid red, but Professor Snape had eaten three of them. He was striped red, blue and green. On the back of everyone's hand was a signature that nobody had seen before. It had Tiffany's crimson flame for a base, but it had two blue wings rising from the sides.

Rose was the first to figure it out. "What's with the new signature, James?"

James was watching Professor Snape try to break the prank with a certain pride. After all, a good prank shouldn't be that easy to break. He replied to Rose absently. "I overheard a couple of Manticores talking about figuring out how to tell everyone they're a couple, without being obvious."

James suddenly noticed the dead silence in the hall. He looked around, and groaned. With the exception of Tiffany and himself, every single person that had come in on the train was at least one unnatural color, and every one of them was staring at him. He glanced at the rest of Chimera. Even they were colors. Hangeld had apparently tried four of them, and the rest of Chimera was two or more colors.

"Mr. Evans," Professor Snape said, "since you seem to be the only normally colored person here right now, maybe you can explain this rainbow of students?" James winced at the silky menace in his voice.

James stood up and surveyed the colorful crowd. "It would appear, Sir, that somebody has pulled a prank." James was projecting innocence as hard as he could, and a newborn baby couldn't have matched the look of innocence on his face.

Professor Snape appeared to be turning more colors under his candy colors, as his temper flared. "Would you know the names of these perpetrators, Mr. Evans?"

James had never outright lied. He might avoid answering, not say anything at all, or leave things out, but he never outright lied. He thought for a second. "Sir, the Gemstones Color Candy is a new Green Flower prank." He looked around again. "I believe this was the first public test of the joke before being added to their line. It would appear," he said earnestly, "that it's a complete success." Laughter rippled through the hall.

"I hope it wears off soon" The speaker this time was Professor Moody, who was staring at James.

"Sir, with very few exceptions, most of the Green Flower pranks only last about an hour." James assured him. Professor Moody was about to say something else, when Professor Dumbledore caught his eye.

"I think this would be a good time to end this meal. Prefects, please escort the new students to their houses. Good night." The Headmaster ended the discussion, as laughing students began the walks to their houses.

Sonya caught up with James. "I am so glad the first fell on a Friday this year. That means Hydra has all day tomorrow to pay you back for this." James grinned at the tri-colored Sonya and then a challenging gleam grew in his eye.

"Care to bet on tomorrow?" he said.

Sonya had bet with James before. "What terms, and what's the bet?"

"Simple. If any Manticore can catch and hex Tiffany or I anytime between sun-up and sundown tomorrow, you win. If no one can find us, we win." James smiled mocking at the Manticores crowding around to listen. "Of course, if you're all to scared... he let the statement trail off suggestively.

"The bet?" Sonya reminded him. James looked at her and then grinned.

"Simple. If Tiffany and I win, each team has to give us one member on request, for prank testing. If you win, each team gets a playday." Playday was a Manticore thing, where the person or team that earned it could blow off all the training that day. You didn't have to do early morning PT; even James couldn't run you ragged on a playday.

The Manticores came back quickly with their agreements. James had just one last thing to say. "Tiffany and I will not go anywhere that any Manticore can't go, and you will not use the Marauder's Map, or Rose's Sight. You will use teamwork, skill and brains to find us."

As everyone went to their Houses, the only person that looked worried was Rose. Melissa looked at her. "What's with you? We have 58 Manticores, the Chimera link and your twinbond to find them with."

"That's exactly what bothers me. James has only lost three bets that I know of, and he always makes it look like the odds are in your favor." Rose was trying to find the flaw James had in mind to take advantage tomorrow.

Melissa thought about it, as they climbed the stairs to Gryffindor. "I still don't see how they can win."

Rose nodded vigorously. "That's exactly the point. James wouldn't have bet if he weren't positive he could win. What do they know that we don't?" They were still thinking about that as they passed through the Portrait hole behind the Fat Lady.

At 2200, James and Tiffany were outside the hidden stair to the Headmaster's office. The Gargoyle moved, and Professor McGonagall escorted them up the stairs. In the office, they greeted Fawkes, and found seats.

"That was an interesting display at dinner" Professor McGonagall's face was as prim as ever, except for the faint curve to one side of her mouth. "Professor Snape will not be happy when you start potions with him."

James shrugged. "Nothing anyone can do about it now. I think that the Green Flower people didn't expect any Professors on the Train."

Professor McGonagall gave James a sharp look. "Professor Dumbledore told me who owns the Green Flower."

James grinned wistfully. "If I had known that there were going to be that many victims, I would have gone with my first impulse, and used the Manticore colors."

Professor McGonagall looked at him. "Manticore has colors?"

Tiffany nodded. "All the teams do. Manticore is silver on black, and Chimera is gold on black."

James took up the recitation. "Sphinx is dark red, Hydra is dark green, Phoenix is scarlet, Unicorn is pale blue, Griffon is white, Dragon is tan, and Pegasus is light green, all on black." He grinned. "I'm thinking of making flags for Manticore Hall."

Professor Dumbledore turned the meeting to business. "What is Manticore's interest in Miss Tzu?"

James and Tiffany got serious. James explained how she couldn't be touched with magic.

The headmaster considered that thoughtfully. "She was also the only person that did not change color exactly at nine."

James cocked his head, inviting details.

"I happened to be looking at the Ravenclaw table when your prank went off, and her change was at least six or seven seconds behind everyone else's."

James narrowed his eyes. "I can't believe that she just happened to get the only faulty color candy in the entire school. That means the prank didn't work on her either, and she changed her own color, so she wouldn't stand out."

Professor Dumbledore objected to that. "She's a Muggle born first year, she shouldn't be capable of that kind of magic yet." He considered it further. "Yet, she did change late, and as you say, the chances of her getting the one improperly charmed candy in the entire bunch are slim. That would mean that she's not what she seems to be, and is hiding something."

James nodded. "That's why the Ravenclaw Manticores will be watching her. I need to know what she is hiding, and who, if anyone she's working for or with." James thought about the girl, wondering if intimidation would get the truth from her, but Tiffany vetoed that idea. "I think we'll just have to assume she's somebody's agent, until we find out differently. Watching her will be good practice for the Manticores anyway, much like tomorrow's game."

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "Interesting bet. I assume you have something planned, or else it looks too easy for the Manticores."

James glanced sharply at the headmaster as he was reminded about the spells. "We do. In fact, you might want to watch the fun. Although, I have to say our trick isn't as good as the one up your sleeve, Professor."

Dumbledore sighed. "I had not realized the depths of your paranoia, or the retention you have, or I would have been more circumspect about using that knowledge. I trust you will keep it a secret?"

James nodded his assent even as he gave the Professor a sly smile. "Of course, although I will be trying to shield Manticore Hall."

Professor Dumbledore smiled faintly. "I had expected no less, and I trust you will not abuse your knowledge of those spells. They are for the Headmaster's use, not paranoid Manticore Leaders."

James sighed, but shrugged. "Since I haven't even found the spells yet, it's a moot point, but I won't use them." He changed the subject before Dumbledore could specify no Manticores using the spells. "Sir, what do you know about Drake Rohan?"

Professor Dumbledore looked at Tiffany. "His father is Richard Rohan."

Tiffany stiffened, and her eyes went flat. James looked through her memories. When he'd finished with that he groaned. Richard Rohan was a type of author. He wrote "expose" books. A few years ago, he'd written one about Harry and the Voldemort war. When it came out, Ginny and about half of the Weasleys had to be restrained from hunting him down and stuffing the book down his throat.

Rohan had taken half-truths, rumours and pure fantasy and written a book implying that the friends, Harry, Ron and Hermione were 'closer' than most friends, and used the rest to create a 'biography' of Harry that was quite bizarre. Hermione had used the book as the base for her fourth book, "Inside the Voldemort war, a survivor's tale." She had pointed out each error, every mistake and straight out lie, giving the proof as she went. Her book had made Rohan a laughingstock, and cost him his job at the Daily Prophet.

Since then, Rohan was forever trying to prove any slanderous thing that people brought him about the heroes of the Voldemort war. He had spied on them, dug through their trash, tried to set them up, and was now in fact, required to stay at least fifty meters from any member of the Weasley or Potter families. He also couldn't enter a building they were in, or come within fifty meters of their dwellings. This had eliminated his spying, but he was still trying to cause trouble to them.

James closed his eyes and considered this development. He reached for Rose, and found her getting ready for bed. "You've got the Manticores tomorrow, so you'll have to deal with this. You need to get a hold of all the Manticores as soon as possible." James explained about Drake, and who his father was. "So until we know his father isn't using him in another of his schemes, I don't want any Manticores talking to him at all."

Rose sent her agreement and a question back. "What do we do if he's already talking to the Manticores in Hufflepuff?"

James was thinking about the same thing, and beginning to get frustrated. "There isn't anything we can do. We should have broken the links up, for communication across all the Houses, but we didn't. Since we didn't, and we don't have any other means of commo with them," James paused, as he thought about their options. "We'll just have to see what happens in the morning, and deal with it then. I think we can contain him though."

James spent a minute telling Rose about a couple of minor things he wanted the Manticores to do tomorrow, while he thought about the problem, that they had right now. "We have to set up some type of commo between the Houses. I would feel a lot better if I could talk to the Hufflepuffs right now. Gryffindor can talk to Slytherin, via Daniel and the Hydra link, and the Dragon link connects Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, but we need to have commo with everyone."

James had been talking aloud as he spoke to Rose, so that Professor Dumbledore had an idea of what was going on, but the headmaster actually had a couple of ideas for James at that point. "You might," Dumbledore suggested, "try the Ghosts or House Elves. They can go anywhere in Hogwarts, and some of the Ghosts are quite helpful, if they're properly approached."

James passed that on to Rose, even as Tiffany reminded the Headmaster that the House Elves couldn't enter Manticore's lab room. "That's becoming annoying too. Emma's experiments are getting messy, since the Crazy Yank is funding her potion experiments."

Dumbledore looked at James. "Emma has, I believe, turned herself and Hangeld into wolf-people, tree-people, and large rocks. She has changed their shape, size or color so many times that I have a note here from Madame Potter, stating the hospital wing's intention to ignore anything they do to themselves, unless they don't have hands to fix it, as with the rock thing."

James had finished talking to Rose, and was smiling blissfully. "I know. She's already saved me a fortune in prank research, and that's why I'm funding her. "Flower Children" and "I am a Werewolf" are selling quite well, and we have good expectations for the "Rockaway" prank next month."

Professor McGonagall shook her head. "You're in school, leading sixty students in your project, learning the information you're teaching them just one step ahead of them, and still you continue the pranks. I truly do not understand that."

James shrugged. "It's simple. The Green Flower funds this project of ours. The more pranks we have, the more money we have to draw on, and money is power. That applies to Wizards as well as Muggles, Muggles are simply more open about it."

Professor Dumbledore had known of course, that the Lab was hidden, but he had not considered that it might be hidden from the House Elves. He spent a few minutes trying to find the room using various spells and items. He was aware of James watching him avidly, trying to see if he could pick up a new spell or two, but Professor Dumbledore wasn't worried about that right now.

He finally stopped, and frowned. "I had not realized that the room was that well hidden. I know where it is, and I still cannot tell it is there."

Professor McGonagall was confused. "Pardon me, but are you saying they made part of Hogwarts disappear?"

Tiffany explained about the room they had converted into a Lab/research area, and how James had tied it to a Shaman spell, so that only the people that gave blood to the spell could find the room. "Basically, he simply made it Unplottable, unless you are part of the spell."

James nodded. "Actually, most Shamans could find it fairly quickly, but there are only two people in Hogwarts that know the Shaman magic. Since I trust both of them, I didn't bother with any further concealment."

Professor McGonagall looked at him. "So you and Rose are the only two that could find the room if something went wrong?"

James grinned, but shook his head. "Not Rose. She was studying the Medicine Woman things, not Shamanism. Tiffany though, knows everything I know about it."

The Professors pursued the Shaman question. Professor McGonagall asked, "What does Rose do with her studies?"

James put his hands up. "I don't know. Her Medicine is a different thing, and strictly for women. I don't know anything about it, other than she deals with areas of magic I don't. She covers Fertility, both animal and plant, Healing, Seeking and Seeing, both the future and at great distances, and herbal studies."

Professor Dumbledore asked, "what does Shamanism cover then?"

James looked up at the ceiling. "Wards, Bindings, Totems, the Spirit World, Defensive and Offensive magic."

The two professors looked at each other, and back at James. "What kind of offensive magic?" was the next question.

James frowned slightly, and sighed. He made a strange little gesture, as if he was drawing a knife from a sheathe at his waist, and suddenly, there was knife in his hand. Dumbledore saw a classic Bowie style knife, with a blade that glowed a bluish-gray.

The Professors stared at the knife. Everyone in the room, including the portraits could feel the magic that radiated from the knife. James unconsciously fell into the tones he used when lecturing Manticore about something. "This is a simple weapon. It's formed of raw magic, and is not real, like a steel knife is. It cannot cut wood, paper or anything material. It will wreak havoc on Muggle electrical or electronic systems, Magical wards or other cast spells, and living bodies."

He cleared his throat and continued. "As you know, a spell is a framework that makes a piece of reality work the way you want it to, such as transforming a pillow into a pig. This will cut that framework, destroying the spell, if it's stronger than the spell; if it's not stronger, then the knife will be absorbed into the spell, making the spell that much stronger. It works the same way on Muggle electronics. Computer chips just fry at the touch of magic, and so do circuit boards."

Professor Dumbledore was more interested in the part James had left out. "What does it do to living bodies?"

James sobered, and put the knife away, much as he had created it. "Passed though an arm or leg, it causes paralysis for anywhere from an hour to a week. It does the same thing passed anywhere through the body except the head or heart, and for much the same reason it disrupts Muggle things. The body is a finely tuned electrical system. Electrical impulses carry the messages of the body everywhere, and this will disrupt that network."

The Professors waited, staring at James until he sighed. "Passed through the brain or heart, it disrupts them for up to twenty minutes."

"Up to twenty minutes?" said Professor McGonagall dryly. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't you be dead, and 'disrupted' forever?"

James shook his head. "If you're lucky, CPR and a couple of other Muggle medical things can keep you technically alive until your heart or brain starts working again."

And if you're not lucky, as you put it?" asked Professor Dumbledore quietly.

James looked at the Professors, and his eyes, and Tiffany's eyes were haunted. "If you're not lucky, you're dead, yes. I have to say though, that it would have to be a damn important thing before I'd use this on a person. When I was taught to make it, Rolling Thunder, my instructor, made me stab a deer with it." James closed his eyes, and Tiffany put an arm around him. "The knife you see, is formed of magic, and held in that shape by my will. If I stop thinking about it, or let it go it disappears. When you stab something, you can feel it, in a vague way. I felt that deer's brain quit, and it's beyond words." James was shivering. Dumbledore asked quietly if James knew anymore offensive magic. "No, Sir, I'm only an apprentice, the higher level magics won't be taught to me until I pass the Shaman tests."

Albus Dumbledore smiled faintly. "That relieves me no end."

James and Tiffany stared at him, not expecting even that gentle teasing. James recovered, smiling at the Professor. "You could help me with my studies, Sir, if you and Fawkes would consent to me working with Fawkes." Fawkes raised his head and fixed an eye on James, even as Professor Dumbledore invited further explanation. "Fawkes is a Phoenix, a living representation of the Firebird, one of the strongest totem beings. Working with Fawkes would greatly increase my Totem Bonding skills."

"I would rather," Dumbledore said dryly, "you didn't bond with my Familiar."

"It's not that kind of bonding, Sir. It's a senses thing, allowing me to see the world through Fawkes's senses. It can't be held for more than an hour or so." James smiled at a thought, and Tiffany grinned. "I've been working with my owl, Tammarrion, but she's a lesser Totem, and I've done as much as I can with her."

Professor McGonagall had seen the smiles. "I don't understand what's so amusing about that."

Tiffany's face was red as she explained. "Let's just say that the other denizens of the castle do some strange things when they think all the living are asleep."

Professor McGonagall stared at the pair. "I think I will leave it at that. I'll probably sleep better tonight."

James continued the conversation. "Anyway, I've done all I can do with a lesser Totem, and now I need a greater Totem, or a mythical Totem. Fawkes is a mythical Totem." James looked up hopefully. "Unless you will let me get a Dragon."

Professor McGonagall had a coughing fit, and the headmaster's eyes widened slightly. "Private ownership of Dragons is forbidden." The headmaster reminded James.

James grinned impishly. "True. However, under Ministry of Magical Creatures rules, an educational facility may keep one Dragon for "research and educational purposes". I'm sure Hagrid would be happy to take care of it for you."

The Headmaster considered the idea of letting James and Hagrid have a dragon on the grounds for almost three seconds. "No, I don't think so."

James sighed in mock disappointment. "I didn't think so, but I thought I'd ask. How about a bear?"

Professor Dumbledore looked over his glasses at James. I'll consider that. I'll speak to you about it in a week or so." The four finished their discussion, and the students left.

"Albus, you're not seriously thinking of letting them have a bear on the grounds."

"My dear Minerva," said Albus, "compared to some of the things Hagrid has tried to keep, a bear would be harmless."

"Not to mention" he said, after a minute's thought. "I would rather James kept the habit of asking me before he brings dangerous or powerful things on the grounds."

Professor McGonagall frowned, and she thought of something from the last couple of moths of last year. "There was a certain rise, in the number of spells the students in Manticore knew after they joined. Why is that?"

Professor Dumbledore smiled faintly. "I would imagine that James pushed them into studying as hard as he does. Plus, having the seventeen volumes of the Pendragon clan spellbooks to study would be a great inducement to study."

"There's only thirteen Pendragon books," Professor McGonagall said, before catching the look on Albus's face as he handed her a book. "Aren't there?" She looked at the book in her hands. Bound in black leather, it had the rising dragon symbol of the Pendragons, and the number 16 on the spine. She looked at Professor Dumbledore. "I'm almost afraid to ask how they got these."

Professor Dumbledore smiled slightly. "Simple. Mary Evans was born Marilyn Pendragon." Professor McGonagall frowned. She should know that name for some reason, and then it hit her.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but are you saying that the Evans's mother is the Pendragon's missing heir? The one that everyone has been seeing everywhere for the last twenty years?" At the headmaster's agreement, she lowered her head into her hands. "You are quite aware what will happen if anyone finds out we have Pendragon blood here, aren't you? Media, sightseers, people wanting to meet them, use them, all kinds of trouble."

She looked up at Albus suddenly. "You said once that you were considering giving James his own House. Is that still an option?" she asked plaintively.

Dumbledore smiled gently. "Can you really see James as a Househead?"

The Transfiguration Professor rubbed her eyes with one hand as she considered the thought of James Evans with the authority of a Househead. The image made her shudder. "Then can I take a Sabbatical for the next six years?"

Professor Dumbledore was looking into the distance. "My dear Minerva, why would you miss this? For once, we have advance warning of the evil, and we're not walking into the situation like Voldemort, where we lost so many people because we didn't know about him." He sighed. "At least tomorrow should be interesting. I would be careful about moving around tomorrow though." At the Professor's quizzical look, Dumbledore smiled. "James and Tiffany against all of Manticore? I'll bet all my wool socks that there are going to be pranks everywhere tomorrow." Professor Dumbledore didn't know it, but that statement was going to become successful prophecy.