Prophecy

Prophecy, 2^nd yr. Chapter 3

November passed in much the same manner. In early November, Zachary Rollins was caught in Lucy Berger's room. Both of them were caught in their birthday suits, and if it had not been a group of Manticores that caught them, there might have been some serious consequences.

As it was, James gave all of Manticore a lecture on Escape and Evasion, using Zachary's visit to Lucy room as an example of both good and bad. James praised the Dragon team member for his ability to get into the room undetected, and invited him to explain how he did it. Zachary turned the invitation down, saying he might want to use the technique again sometime. The lack of simple precautions thereafter, like locking, silencing and invisibility spells was held up as a bad example of Evasion, and again, James invited Lucy to explain why, an offer that was also declined.

Just before the Holidays started, a half giant Borderer called Blacklegs (because of the black leggings he habitually wore.) showed up, and was easily persuaded to give classes in Borderer and Giant customs, and the terrain of the Border areas. When Sonya Gebbs showed up for the classes, he gave her a strange look, but didn't say anything.

Blacklegs' primary purpose though, was to start teaching Hangeld about Elemental magic. Hangeld soon had the basics down, and all they needed now, was for his type of elemental magic to manifest.

Three days before the Holidays, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor faced off in the first Quidditch Match of the season. After being linked the year before, Ron Stone and the Sphinx team had tried out for the Quidditch team, and been chosen easily. Terry Boot Jr. was the seeker, and the two linked teams had one of the longest matches in Hogwarts history. Ravenclaw used Terry as the Seeker, and with their Chasers and Keeper linked, very few shots got through their defenses. Gryffindor was using the same ideas, but they had Adam to direct from the ground as well, and were slowly pulling ahead. Seven hours and 29 minutes into the game, the Snitch finally made it's appearance, and Tiffany broke off the Wronski Feint she was trying on Terry, and with the superior speed of the Starblade, she caught the Snitch almost before Terry knew it was in sight. The final score was Gryffindor: two hundred and twenty points, Ravenclaw: eighty. The next match would pit Hufflepuff against Slytherin.

Gryffindor was enjoying a novel experience for them this year. With nearly a third of the House too busy doing Manticore things to get in trouble, and that being the more active third at that, Gryffindor was actually tied for the House Cup points lead. A few pessimists thought that wouldn't last, but they were enjoying it while it lasted. James just grinned and said it was a good thing Chimera had stayed out of the Halloween prank disaster. While Manticore had caused the mess, the actual perpetrators had been evenly spread over the houses, so all the houses lost the same amount.

Professor Snape's point revenge on James for the color candy incident was slowing down, but the points he took were more than offset by something that had Chimera very confused. They were all doing equally well in every class, and most of Chimera was doing much better in class work than they normally did. James was actually doing quite well in Potions, which had always been his worst class. James simply didn't have the patience to read and follow detailed instructions. Transfigurations, where you had to use your imagination and will to cause a spell to work was his type of class. Rose was exactly the opposite, but she was suddenly doing quite well in Transfigurations as well.

Melissa finally admitted she needed help, and sent an Owl to her parents. They sent an elderly Healer named April Erskine, who had made the study of different links her life's work. She put James and Tiffany through a series of tests, then James and Rose, and then all of Chimera. After she had studied the links, and the spells that had created the various links, she gathered Chimera to explain her findings.

James and Rose had adapted a spell to increase the sensitivity of their link. Since when they adapted the spell, they only had the twinbond, they had not limited the spell, or specified a bond to strengthen. When Chimera cast the linking spell, the spell, having the power of all eight to draw on, and two bonds already in place, had linked Chimera using the Soulbond, not the twinbond. That is what increased the power of Chimera's link and why they were doing so well in all their classes. Mediwitch Erskine had found that they could draw on the talents of each person in the link. She thought that with practice and time, they would be able to draw on each other consciously, not just unconsciously as they were doing now.

The second fact about that Chimera link nearly led to blows between Chimera. Chimera's link, unlike the links of the other teams, could not be broken. Between the Prophecy, and the use of the Soulbond as the base for their link, it simply could not be broken, except, April theorized, maybe by death. For nearly a week, while they argued, Manticore watched apprehensively. The Saturday before Christmas James and Rose got permission to use the Room of Requirement, and Chimera spent the day in there. When they came out, they were talking to each other again, and they slowly returned to what passed for normal with them.

While Chimera fought Professor Dumbledore had had several long talks with April, talks that relieved him of a vague worry he'd had since he found out about the Chimera link. James would not be able to use the Chimera link to use Emma's warlock or Hangeld's Elemental magic, because you could only use the link to draw on something if you were capable of it, and both those talents required certain physical things that James simply didn't have.

The Holidays also showed another problem with Manticore. Cumulus paid to bring the families of the Manticores to Hogsmeade for the Holidays, but a few families were starting to wonder why their children never came home anymore, and they had some pointed questions for the Cumulus representative. She was hard pressed to give convincing answers that did not say anything about links and wars.

Families were not the only ones hearing about Manticore. James and Tiffany were of course, mildly famous for the Soulbond, the first one in over a hundred years, and the only one currently in existence. Add that to the pranks, and other stories circulating around school about James, and rest of Chimera, and is it any wonder that the students not in Manticore all had their favorite tales of Manticore? One of the people hearing the stories was Cornelius Fudge, as his grandson was a student at Hogwarts. Carey Fudge was a Hufflepuff, and only knew the Fraternal Order of Manticore cover story about the Educational Society.

Minister Fudge paid a visit to Hogwarts over the Holidays, but several Manticores saw him enter the school, and warned the rest. By the time professor Dumbledore and Minister Fudge got to Manticore Hall, it was a picture of innocent study. Lisa Malfoy and Adam Brooks met the two at the door, and gave a tour, while extolling the virtues of the Order.

They gave a very convincing performance of earnest young students only interested in 'expanding the frontiers of knowledge', a phrase Lisa used without cracking a smile, although Adam had to cough down laughter.

Since the Soulbond was common knowledge, Minister Fudge insisted on meeting James and Tiffany. Lisa led them to Chimera's table, where James, Tiffany, Rose and Melissa were sitting, pretending to study something. (Actually, they were planning a prank.)

Professor Dumbledore was slightly nervous about James, but he was very polite. At least, he was until Minister Fudge said, "It's a pity you had to leave your home to get a good education, but the North American School of Wizardry will get better, after they drop that 'alternative magic' junk. If that shaynenism magic was so good, the natives wouldn't have lost, would they?"

James and Rose stiffened. Having studied that 'shaynenism', and having a Cheyenne grandmother on their father's side, they most certainly did not agree. Tiffany grabbed James's arm, as he was about to pull a disk out of his pocket. "James, you can't put a donkey's head on the Minister of Magic."

"Yes, I could, if you'd let go of my arm. That fat freak just insulted my country, both my peoples and my Shaman magic. Let go, and he'll be lucky to have just the donkey's head." Tiffany continued to try to calm James as the Minister said his goodbyes, never even noticing the sudden tension.

On the other side of the table, Melissa was talking just as fast to Rose, who was considering how Fudge would look with a fish's head mounted on his neck.

The Minister and Professor Dumbledore walked away without anybody changing shape. The Minister's parting comments as he left the school however, made Albus Dumbledore wonder if he should hex the blind fool.

"Wonderful group of students you have there Albus, even the two Americans. Fancy my grandson thinking there's something strange about them. It's too bad about them having that Riddle girl, and the Malfoy one, but I guess they had to, under their Charter. You know about that type of person though, and you'll do what needs to be done, eh Albus?"

Professor Dumbledore, Mercy's guardian, and Manticore supporter, blandly informed the Minister of Magic, "Yes, I will do what needs to be done, again."

Minister Fudge put out his hand. "I owe you an apology Albus. I thought this was another of those 'Dumbledore's Army' things, and I was wrong."

The Headmaster took his hand, agreeing that this was vastly different than the DA. For one thing, he reflected dryly, DA had never had one of the largest fortunes in the world to draw on, or such explosive personalities to lead it. Harry Potter had simply never been as obsessed as James Evans, even at the worst of times.

Albus Dumbledore watched the Minister leave, wondering again how the fool had managed to hold on to his job as long as he had. He went back to Manticore Hall in time to watch some of them take down the illusions that had concealed the things they didn't want the Minister to see. He looked at the charts and maps on the wall behind Chimera's table again, waiting for James and Rose to come out of their mental conversation.

The twins had matching expressions of anger and evil glee on their faces, and Dumbledore spared an instant's pity for Fudge. Sometime soon, something embarrassing was going to happen to him. Albus could see that as clearly as if he had Rose's Sight.

"Your minister is somewhat biased." The headmaster turned to see Rose regarding him with eyes that were much cooler than normal for her.

"Cornelius Fudge has several character flaws. Being biased is only one, and not the biggest at that." he replied. Rose nodded, and her eyes lost their focus as she followed paths Albus couldn't see. Dumbledore waited, watching her until she came back to the present.

"No matter. He won't be a problem after the opening of the war," she said, and Professor Dumbledore could almost see her dismiss him, "and Father and James have plans to collar him before then, if necessary."

Professor Dumbledore frowned slightly as he sat in the chair reserved for his use at Chimera's table. "What do you mean, 'collar' him?" he asked.

Rose looked at him, and he could almost hear Robert and James's voices in her next comment. "I think, Sir, that you might be a little upset, were you to know what we would do. We have to assume you love your country as much as we love ours, and we wouldn't want to unduly distress you."

"That whole statement is not reassuring at all you know." he replied dryly, as he watched James scribble a few more notes on a sheet of paper.

"You can figure it out if you try, Sir. Cumulus controls, one way or another, nearly twenty percent of the business in this country, if you count both Wizard and Muggle worlds, and if that fool interferes, we'll pull everything out, and simply not do business here." James looked up as he put the notes he'd been making away.

Professor Dumbledore frowned at James. "You are aware that pulling that many jobs and that much capital out of this country could cause a depression."

"Of course we are. It wouldn't be much of a threat if nothing would happen. Hopefully, freakazoid Fudge will stay blind and stupid until First Strike, and then he won't matter at all." James sighed. "It's not like we want to destroy anyone except the Patient Child after all."

"Mr. Evans. I realize you have some problems with the Minister of Magic. Nonetheless, he is the Minister of Magic, and you will respect the office, if not the man. Is that clear?" Professor Dumbledore's voice was firm and his eyes pinned James.

James looked at him, rebellion showing in his eyes, and then looked away as it faded. "Yes, Sir, I will respect the office." The unspoken statement that Fudge the man would get respect when the sun rose in the west Albus chose to ignore. After all, he'd felt the same way for nearly a quarter century now. He looked around the hall, noting with some surprise that there were a number of non-Manticores in the hall.

He questioned Rose about it, but Emma answered him. "Some of the older Manticores have friends that aren't with us. Cutting all those friendships would be suspicious, so we just watch what we say around them." Emma grinned at James. "Although our resident Noids nearly had heart attacks at first."

James looked up from the notes he was making again. "Hey, even Noids are right sometimes." he protested mildly.

Seeing the quizzical look on professor Dumbledore's face, Lisa spoke. "Noids is just slang for paranoid, and James and Jerrick are our resident Noids."

James cocked an eye in her direction. "If we're so paranoid, why haven't you taken an ad out in the Daily Prophet for people to join us?"

Lisa smiled sweetly. "If I did that, you would get upset with me, and I like my body parts right where they are, thank you."

James looked wounded. "Please, I think I'm just a bit more creative than that."

Professor Dumbledore watched the relaxed teasing with amusement, but he did have some business today. "Has Mr. Clearwater discovered anything about those two students we discussed?"

James went from relaxed to focused in an instant. "Rohan is safe as far as we can tell. He is not a plant of his father's anyway." James reported, "We've got a couple of Manticores keeping an eye on him, but nothing has happened yet."

Dumbledore nodded, and asked about May-ling. James frowned, and started looking around the hall. "Let me get Jerrick for this, I'm not sure I understand it completely."

He caught a Phoenix team member's eye, and signaled for Jerrick to rally at the table. Jerrick slid into a seat a few minutes later, greeting the Headmaster before turning his attention to James. "You wanted me for something?"

"Give the Headmaster your report on May-ling." said James.

Jerrick turned to the professor. "Sir, on paper. May-ling is exactly what her school paperwork says she is, a Muggle born witch from London." Jerrick scratched his chin, and Albus smiled faintly. He'd seen Jerrick's father do the very same thing when he was thinking about something. Apparently, skills weren't the only thing Jerrick was getting from his father. Dumbledore turned his thoughts back to what Jerrick was saying.

My father says her paperwork is perfect, too perfect is the problem." Professor Dumbledore invited an explanation. "Sir, as different people and agencies create new paperwork on a person, human error insures that there will be a mistake or two, here and there. It always happens, and tracking down those little things is a large part of intelligence work. Usually, it's a simple mistake, completely innocent. Sometimes, it's a flaw in somebody's cover." He paused, thinking about it.

"For example, according to the files from America, James and Rose have funded Eco-Terrorists in the Muggle world."

James and Rose stared at him. "We have? When?" asked James.

Jerrick grinned at them. "Do you remember a donation to a group called Nature Preservation?"

Rose nodded instantly. "Yes. They're a group dedicated to saving as much old growth forest as they can, and they saved a large area near our home a year or so ago." She turned to the still puzzled James. "You remember, the whole lumber company thing?"

James winced. "Actually, I've been trying to forget that, so you did get mom to send them something?"

"Yes, she sent them a few dollars." Rose said absently, smiling at the memories of the Unicorn and the lumbermen. James nodded, while sending her a warning about saying anything. He glared at a choking Tiffany, and she hid her face.

Jerrick stared at the twins. " 'A few dollars'?" That is not how I would talk about ten thousand dollars." Most of Chimera and the headmaster stared at Jerrick, not knowing what that was in Galleons. Jerrick saw their confusion and explained. "Ten thousand dollars is about 625 Galleons at sixteen to one exchange rates."

James and Rose were the targets of multiple stares again. Tiffany just giggled. "Now you know how I feel. These two have no concept of money as we know it."

Rose shrugged. "We've been through this. We have always had a great deal of money, and it's a tool we use, like a wand. It's only money after all."

Hangeld spoke in his rumbling voice. "Do you even know that many families live on less than that?"

James grinned at him. "So I shouldn't tell people Rose and I spent over four hundred Galleons creating the 'Slippery Soles' prank?"

Silence met this comment until Adam, who was more comfortable with pounds, finished converting the fourteen to one ratio. "Bloody hell," he said incredulously, "you spent fifty-six hundred pounds on a prank?"

James shrugged, echoing Rose. "It's only money."

The collective eye rolling that met this statement had Tiffany laughing again. "Give it up, the Mega-Money twins here will never understand."

The group went back to listening to Jerrick. "Anyway, the group you donated to, also funds another group called Nature's Protectors, and they tend to be extreme, spiking trees and ruining machinery, things like that." Jerrick grinned at James and Rose's expressions. "So, according to your files, you two have ties to Eco-Terrorists."

He paused, looking around the table. "Emma here has a couple of minor things, Adam is missing an entire year of school records, and Hangeld's name doesn't match in a couple of files." He took a deep breath. "The point is, everyone's files are like that, except May-ling. Every date, every line, everything in her files is perfect. My father says that is a very good sign that they were all created by one person, at one time so that they could be checked against each other."

Professor Dumbledore nodded, following the logic of the report. "So the very fact that they are perfect is a good indication that something is wrong."

Jerrick nodded. "My father says that it is a good sign of rookie or untrained intelligence people." Professor Dumbledore nodded again, thinking about that. Adrian Clearwater had been Head of Auror Intelligence for nearly twenty years, and if he felt there was something wrong with May-ling's files, Albus had enough respect for him to listen.

His next question was blunt. "What are you planning to do about it, James?" When Tiffany started to speak, he held up one hand. "I asked James." Robert Evans had told Professor Dumbledore that James and Rose would not directly lie. Albus had also noticed that James let other people answer for him, and that some of those answers were a bit strange at times.

James hesitated, and chose his words carefully. "For the moment, nothing. We know there is something strange about her, but not what. We need to know who she's working for, what's she's here to do, and how she reports before we can neutralize her."

"And if she's an agent of the Patient Child?" the headmaster asked quietly. "What will you do then?"

James's smirk was decidedly evil. "Nothing. As long as we know who the Patient Child's spy is, we can make sure the spy only learns what we want the enemy to know."

"And if she's a plant from somebody else?" inquired the Headmaster.

James's eyes were bland, showing nothing, but professor Dumbledore caught the worried look Tiffany sent her Soulbonded. "I will do whatever it takes to protect Manticore and my people."

Hogwarts' Headmaster matched both the steel in James's voice, and the blandness of his eyes. "Just remember, if you would, that while she is here, May-ling is one of my people, as you put it." James and the Professor matched stares for a minute, and it was James that looked away.

"I understand your point, Sir. He said, and looked at the professor again. "I hope you understand mine." This time, his eyes didn't leave the professor's eyes. James wasn't challenging the Headmaster, merely making sure he knew that James felt as responsible for the Manticores as Dumbledore did for the denizens of Hogwarts.

Professor Dumbledore nodded slowly. "Keep me informed about the situation." It was not a request.

"Jerrick, make sure the Headmaster gets a copy of your weekly report, would you?" said James. Jerrick sighed, but agreed.

Professor Dumbledore opened his last topic for the day. "I have been thinking, and I am concerned about the Lab. While I agree that the things in there should be restricted, the idea of a room in Hogwarts that I can't find, but others can get into, is disturbing."

Tiffany's thoughts touched on the last such room, and the trouble caused by the Chamber of Secrets. James thought about it, and sighed. "The only way to fix that, Sir, would be for you to join Manticore, and donate a drop of blood to the spell." He hesitated, looking at Jerrick.

Jerrick grinned thinly at James. "I already know about the Clan binding, so you can speak freely."

James raised an eyebrow. "What gave it away?"

Jerrick flushed. "You have a whole range of magic I don't understand, so I've been looking at the books you brought with you. The Clan binding is in one of them, along with all its affects."

Professor Dumbledore injected a question. "Would you mind telling me what you two are talking about?"

James told the Professor about the Shaman spell, and the Clan binding, with James as Head of the new Clan. "You have the Clan Leader's powers." The comment was not a question.

James shook his head. "Not the powers yet, merely the potential. I'm not ready to assume the full power yet." James was as honest with himself as he was anyone else. "Between my temper, and the stress of running Manticore, I'm not sure I need those abilities right now."

Professor Dumbledore frowned as he thought of what he knew of the Clan Leader powers. No, James didn't need those skills right now. He considered the lab, and what joining the binding would mean. He weighed the choices, and considered the alternatives. "How do I join Manticore?" he asked quietly.

James stared at him for a minute, and when he spoke, his voice was serious, and formal. "Is that your choice, made of your free will?"

Professor Dumbledore said it was, and James spoke quietly. "Then let's figure out what oath you will swear, because the standard Manticore oath might conflict with other oaths you are under." As they turned away to talk, James sent a message through the link. "Rose, prepare the Hall for ritual, would you?"

James and the Professor talked, while all the non-Manticore people were gotten out of the Hall, and the doors were shut. The Manticores knew that something was up when the doors were shut, and they waited, watching Tiffany and James.

James finally looked up. "Rose," he called across the hall, "is Manticore Hall secure?"

"The doors are shut, and except for the Headmaster, every person in the hall is a Manticore." replied Rose formally.

When James spoke again, it had the feel of a spell, and professor Dumbledore could feel magic swirling in the Hall, as James invoked whatever they'd done to the Hall. "All witness, All witness. One is here, who would join us in good faith, and who would be an asset to us. His name and character are known to all of us. Is there anyone that would say Nay?" Nobody moved or spoke, although many of them smiled at the Professor.

"Is there anyone that will hold his Honor in their hands?" James asked, and before he could finish, everyone he could see was standing. "Stand forth, and be known." He finished the ritual.

James turned to the professor and pulled a small silver knife from his robes. "May I have your hand, Sir?" Professor Dumbledore held out his hand, and watched as James made small cuts in his hand, and then the headmaster's. They clasped hands, and James chanted something in Lakota while Dumbledore felt the swirling magic grow around them. James let go of his hand, and pointed out the small golden disk that marked the door. He directed the professor to rob some blood on the disk.

He did so, fascinated by the swirling, living magic he could feel, but not touch. A flickering thought, about looking into Shaman magic, was shunted aside as he watched the disk glow, absorbing his blood. The glow died, and a door appeared in front of him.

"Welcome to Manticore, Professor." James said, loud enough for everyone to hear, and a cheer rose. James spoke quietly, under the cheer. "I don't suppose you have five more candidates, for a link?" he said, smiling impishly.

Professor Dumbledore just looked over his glasses at James. He knew about the links, both the benefits, and the restrictions. James just grinned again. "I didn't think so, and it is only fitting that the Leader of the Order of the Phoenix be in Phoenix."

James looked at the crowd, searching for someone. "Mercy." he called, and waited.

When Mercy joined them, James smiled at her. "Mercy, Professor Dumbledore is a Phoenix, but in a liaison capacity."

Mercy looked confused. "What does that mean?"

"It means whatever you two decide it means, but you and Jerrick will continue to run Phoenix." James said.

Mercy thought about it for a minute, and then glared at James. "What it means, is that you haven't got a clue what to do with someone you can't control, and you're dumping it on me and Jerrick."

James considered that, and smiled brightly. "Exactly," he confessed, "Although, mostly on you, since you've known him longer than the rest of us. I have faith that you'll work something out." He considered the two of them thoughtfully. "For now," he suggested, "you could show him the lab, and teach him the signature spell, and record his signature when he chooses one." He started to turn away, then stopped. "Don't forget to fill him in on the charms as well. I have the feeling that he'll be getting some. Get his measurements and picture at the same time. Also, give him the first year books and study materials." Professor Dumbledore looked over his glasses at James, who merely shrugged. "Sir, do you really want an eleven year old knowing more about what we're doing than you do? It might lead to doubts about your infallibility." James grinned at the headmaster. "Look on the bright side, at least you don't have to worry about pop quizzes or PT."

Mercy groaned. "Professor, if you'll follow me, we'll get started before this Yank nutter gives me a pop quiz."

Mercy led the Professor into the Lab, and James returned to his chair. He was idly wondering if he should extend the Liaison position to the rest of the Hogwarts staff when Tiffany interrupted his thinking. "Do you really want Professor Snape able to enter the Lab? If he finds out we're better stocked than he is, we'll never get rid of him."

James smiled at her as she sat down next to him, and his hand was playing with her hair almost instantly. "You just don't want your parents up here." he countered.

She smiled as she rested her head on his shoulder. "To use one of your Yank phrases, 'like you do?'"

"Not really. I have to assume they might be a little uncomfortable with some of our ways." James relaxed, mellowed by the touch of his Soulbonded in a way nothing, and no one else could do, even Rose. Thinking of her, he looked, and she was in her window. He raised an eyebrow to see Melissa sitting there with her, and the two staring at each other as they sent over a private link.

He sighed, and began thinking about how this would affect the Prophecy, and the Manticores. Because of the "Heart's Mate" line, James had figured that the Eight would make four couples before the end. What he had not figured on was an uneven number of boys and girls. He considered the lines again, seeking a flaw in his logic.

Travails, Sorrow, and Loss shall be their Fate,

Unless within each other they find Heart's Mate.

He sighed again, watching Rose and Melissa laughing at some private joke. He was fairly sure of which people would be couples already, and Rose and Melissa would have consequences he wasn't sure of yet.

"James quit worrying about it. It's still a couple of years away." Tiffany was getting tired of listening to James worry about things that wouldn't happen for years and years yet.

"I have to worry about it, Greeneyes. First, she's my sister, and the person that hurts her is going to test my self-control more than anything but an attack on you could." James was seriously worried about that. Just the thought of somebody hurting Rose or Tiffany was enough to make him angry, and if, no, when it did happen, he wasn't at all sure he'd be able to control his temper. "Plus, we have to consider how the Manticores will take it, and how it'll affect them."

James was scanning the Hall as they talked, and he grinned as he saw Jerrick and Sonya in a corner, talking animatedly. Sonya had grown up on the Borders of the Giantlands, and Jerrick wanted to know everything about people. He was interrogating her as intensely as if she was the Patient Child.

Thought of the Patient Child brought him to a private project nobody at Hogwarts knew about, except Tiffany. "Before you ask, no, there's still nothing."

James nodded, and moved Tiffany's very willing body around in front of him. She was handing him the brush even as she settled into position, and they sank into the rapport that was a wonderful side effect of the Soulbond.

Emma watched them for a minute, and sighed. "You realize, this would be the perfect time to pull a prank on them, except for one thing."

Chimera looked at her, except for Rose, who grinned. "Sure it would," she sent, "if you were willing to deal with James when he figured out how you used their rapport."

They thought about that, and Hangeld put their thinking into words. "Not even James could calculate the risk on that."

The rest of them grinned. "Not to mention, after the loop incident, we've being learning some control." Chimera stared at the two, deep in their pleasure. That had been Tiffany's voice in the link.

"Actually," and this was James, "We've found a way to use the rapport to combine our thoughts, and it seems to make things clearer, and problems easier to solve."

Melissa cocked her head, deep in thought as she pulled her notebook out. "That would explain something that has puzzled researchers for a very long time. About one to two years after the Bonding, both members of the Bond show a marked increase in intelligence. If you can combine your thinking in tandem, rather than parallel..." Melissa's mental voice faded away as she began scribbling notes furiously.

Emma regarded her with a grin. "That's going to keep her busy for the rest of the day." She turned to Hangeld. "Would you like to help me? I found the most interesting potion recipe, but I don't know what it does."

Hangeld sighed, even as he stood up to join Emma. "If I'm not back by dinner, somebody come rescue me."

The two friends went into the Lab, still bickering about which of them had caused the last potion to explode. Lisa watched them, smiling, and sent a thought over the Chimera link. "Which of them is crazier, Emma for trying to mix any two substances, or Hangeld for helping her?"

Laughter spread across the link, except for Emma, who sent an image of her sticking her tongue out at Lisa. Chimera turned to other things then, as the new assistant librarian, William Moore came up to consult with Rose about the History he was writing. (He'd been Prefect Moore last year, and most of Chimera was surprised to find he had a first name.)

Arthur Weasley, Emma's oldest brother and the leader of Gryffindor's Griffon team looked at the Finnigan twins. "Rose is busy, would you like to try out the window seat again?" The twins studiously ignored the laughter in the Griffon link. One of them had been caught in the windowsill, and the results had been entertaining for everyone but them. Since neither of them would admit to being the one that was in the sill, Rose had simply hexed both of them every time she saw them. They had been different sizes, shapes and colors; they had glowed, smelled and sometimes had two or more effects at one time.

Rose never gave them a chance to apologize, and when the rumour started floating around Manticore that Rose was researching a person-to-pillow transfiguration that would be permanent, they had finally gone to James to beg him to get her to quit. Only Chimera knew that Rose had started the rumour, figuring they'd learned their lesson about her seat.

Arthur grinned at the memories, and made a mental note not to get caught in Rose's window. He went back to studying the Muggle book on tactics James had assigned the team leaders. He glanced at James. Arthur admired the younger boy, but wouldn't have traded places with him for anything. The short life of the Soulbonded was common knowledge in Manticore, and despite his money and talent, only Jody Beal wanted to be him. Arthur admitted to himself that the kind of dedication that it must have taken to come to Hogwarts, knowing that you would probably be sentencing yourself to a short life, was beyond him. Even if Manticore won, those two would be gone soon thereafter. And that was without considering that temper. James had torn a strip off of Arthur one time, and that was a memory that still made him shudder.

James would calmly correct a mistake. He got annoyed if you made the same mistake twice, and that day Arthur had being working with a pistol, and had forgotten the safety a third time. James had taken the pistol, calmly loaded one round, and caused an image of Michael, Arthur's teammates and younger brother to appear. He had then shot the image, which had produced a very graphic, and disturbing death scene. James had then taken the Griffon team leader into the Lab, and shown him actual pictures of dead bodies that had been shot with pistols. The entire time, he kept putting images of the Griffon team member's heads on the bodies. During the whole thing James had explained why a safety was there, in the same tone and small words you would use to correct a three year old.

That however, was not the worst. James had given him five of the pictures, each with a Griffon's head still, and taken the pistol. "You will not do any more training," he'd said, "until you bring me a letter, from you, to each of these people's mothers, explaining how sorry you are that you killed their children through stupidity."

It had taken three days to write those letters, and when he brought them to James, James had told him to keep them, and handed him five more letters. These had been James's letters to the mothers, and they had cut Arthur quite as badly as his own had. When he'd finished reading them, James had looked at him, and said his final words on the matter.

"Don't be the one that makes me write one of those letters."

That was, Arthur reflected, one good thing about James. Once he tore the strip off you, it was gone, unless you did it again. Arthur shivered as he remembered the cold voice and cutting contempt James had displayed, as he lectured the Griffon team leader. He looked at his team, and ran a hand under his robes, where he had one of the magical copies of the pistols. He checked the safety again.

Arthur wasn't worried about making James write one of those letters, he never wanted to have to write a letter explaining a child's death to his or her mother again. He went back to his study of tactics, determined that he would not be the one to cause somebody to die.

Michael had seen Arthur reach under his robes, and like all of Griffon, he knew what was there. Unlike the rest of Griffon, Michael had read all ten of the letters. He had come away from that with two thoughts. He never wanted the responsibility of the team leader position, and that Yank was crazy. A good kind of crazy maybe, but crazy. Anyone who would take responsibility for this many people, knowing some of them would die, was simply barking mad in his opinion. Michael looked at the Griffon team, trying to figure out who would lead if anything happened to Arthur.

Brian Crockford was a nice guy. Brave, true, and a complete pushover in the nice department. Not a bad friend, but he'd be a terrible leader for this kind of thing. He'd be great leading a charity, but this wasn't exactly a charity now was it?

Harold Bones was not a pushover, but he thought too much. He'd spend so much time getting every detail right, that the war would be over before they did one mission. Given any choices at all, he would thoroughly explore every single option until he was sure he wanted to do one.

Michael shuddered at the thought of one of the Finnigan twins leading. They had the eternal optimism of a pair of six year olds. Everything would be ok, and always would be, as long as they tried, or so they thought.

Michael frowned as he realized that Griffon didn't have a back-up leader in case something happened to Arthur, and he made a mental note to talk to Arthur about it.

The Holidays saw the first year of what would become a Manticore tradition. Last year, the boys of Chimera had pelted the girls, and started a snowball fight that had lasted until dinner. This year, the girls repaid the favor, getting Ron Stone and Richard March of Sphinx as well. The only Chimeras not involved were James and Tiffany. Since they couldn't hide plots from each other, they tended to stay out of the male vs. female games.

Within the hour, Manticore was embroiled in a snowball war that pitted Chimera, Sphinx and Phoenix against the rest. Mercy and Phoenix had created a snowfort, and were protected from the worst. With Adam leading the mobile attacking force, the two sides were closely matched until Debra Valentine of the Dragon team took control of all the teams.

The combined strikes of five teams, working together from a single point of control would have quickly overrun the fort if not for the team of Mercy and Jerrick. With Mercy leading the defense, and stockpiling snowballs for the attackers, led by Jerrick, the fort was holding on. Adam still had Chimera and Sphinx, but superior numbers were pushing them back to the fort as well.

All the defenders were in the fort, and three teams were making runs at the fort from three different directions when Griffon and Unicorn disappeared under snow. Everyone came to a stop, looking for the source of the attack. James and Tiffany were sitting on their Broomsticks, surveying the group below.

As the two teams began popping up from the roof loads of snow James and Tiffany had dumped on them, the pair hovered just over their heads. "Tiffany, Darling," James said in a snobbish sounding voice, "There are snow people living over here."

"What is the neighborhood coming to?" was her equally snobbish reply.

The addition of a mobile air wing changed the odds in the defenders favor, until more broomsticks began arriving. Within the hour, almost everyone was mounted, and the battle was rejoined. Mercy led the defense on the ground, with Jerrick repelling the land attacks. Adam used the two mobile teams in relays, using one close to the fort to repel air raids on it, while the other team made feints and attacks on the enemy.

The battle continued raging until Professor Dumbledore catch James's attention. James flew to him, and the headmaster spoke to him. "Lunch is in a bit, and Mr. Finch has informed me that dry, snow-free clothing is the preferred uniform in the dining hall."

James grinned, still flush with the adrenalins of battle. "Yes, Sir." He pulled his wand, and send blue sparks drifting over the battlefield. Manticore reacted to the recall sign as well as James could have hoped for. Within three minutes, all the teams were lined up in front of James. "People, good work. Now, Lunch is in thirty minutes, and I have been informed that dry, snow-free clothing is the uniform of the day." James looked around, and smirked. "Lucy, Zach, that does not mean birthday suits." The couple blushed as laughter rolled through the crowd. "Dismissed." Except for Chimera, waiting on James, Manticore headed for their rooms to change.

Professor Dumbledore looked at James. "Well impressive, Mr. Evans. Your training is paying off."

James bowed to the Headmaster. "I will pass your words along, Professor. Thank you."

James turned his head, regarding Chimera. "Last one upstairs has to help Emma with her experiments for a week."

Eight broomsticks headed for the main doors and disappeared inside. Professor Dumbledore turned to Professor McGonagall standing nearby. "Would you remind them that flying indoors is forbidden?"

Professor McGonagall was looking after Manticore with a somber expression. "Are we doing the right thing here, Albus?" she asked in a quiet voice. "I was watching them today, and they remind me of a pack of wolves. Fierce, loyal and very dangerous." She turned to look at him. "Tell me something, if they became dark wizards, could they be stopped?"

Professor Dumbledore considered the question gravely. "If that happened, it would take a great effort to stop them. What worries me however, is not them going evil, but how far they will go to win." He moved closer to the Transfiguration professor. "James and Tiffany have gotten a source from Jerrick's father, and they're hunting the Patient Child. James is planning on just shooting him when they find him, even if he hasn't done anything yet."

Professor McGonagall flinched. "That's murder."

"Yes, it is."