Brilliance

"Hush."

I started to roll my eyes at Peter but then recalled that he couldn't see me, anyhow. Hrmph, the only one making any noise was *him*, not *me*, and not *James*.

We hurried on across the grounds and towards Greenhouse Four, where we would set our plan in motion. Why there, one might ask. Simple, we'd answer. It was a question of priority. Did we want to see the results of this prank and appear guilty right away, thus running danger of ultimately getting caught? Or would we rather have described it to us by the fourth year Gryffindors, who'd be there since they had Herbology in Greenhouse Four the following morning; which would make us a little less suspicious? Self-preservation won out. We weren't suicidal. Even one month after the 'toad incident' Benzen was still furious as hell and every time he saw us his face turned as red as Fawkes' plumage.

Esmeralda, as we had guessed, was dead. Nobody had seen her since Valentine's Day. Rumours as to what had happened to her abounded. First and second years mostly believed she had escaped, fled home to her family - we didn't correct them. Third years and above thought that either she had died of old age (though these were a minority), or had not survived another demonstration (which nobody had witnessed, so it was considered unlikely) or that Benzen had killed her in a fit of rage (which was true, not that we would have told anyone so - after all, we hadn't been involved in anything that could have irked the git so much).

But anyhooties (you know, I like that word; or better, I like the effect it has on my sister each time I say it. She'd be embarrassment incarnated. Girls! I'm just glad I was born a boy. Though, admittedly, the world would be dull without them; and I just love baiting Nelle! - Insert maniacal laughter here - but back to my narration).

Anyhooties (hehe), it was Remus' turn to stay behind this time. (We did not always leave somebody behind, only if we needed an alibi or - as was the case then - if we went out after curfew and required someone to open the portrait hole for us.) Naturally, Remus wasn't particularly happy that he couldn't come, but fair was fair (each of us had to stay behind now and then) and, anyway, it wasn't like this would be the last time we'd prank the Git now, was it?

Or maybe it was.

We had by now reached Greenhouse Four, which stood innocently among its counterparts - with the exception that its door was ajar.

This was really something to be suspicious about.

For one thing, Benzen was too paranoid to simply leave a door open. We had expected at least *one* minor obstacle, like a locked door for instance.

Secondly, there were plants in there and they needed warm surroundings. The cold wind blowing around us on that night was certainly quite unhealthy for them. Benzen, who loved his shrubs and greenery and whatnot would never endanger his "dears" like that. There was something fishy going on!

"And now?" Pipsqueak breathed in my ear.

I shrugged.

"We go in, I suppose."

"Yeah."

Nobody moved. Behind me James huffed and pushed past us. He stepped out from under the Cloak and into the Greenhouse. After a moments hesitation we followed; and bumped into James.

"What is it?" I asked while taking the Cloak off of me and Peter. I folded it neatly and tucked it beneath my robes. James neither moved nor made a sound, so I shoved him out of the way. I stopped dead. Behind me Peter whimpered.

"Get Pomfrey!" I bit out.

"I think it's too late for that," James whispered. He was right, of course, but...

"I don't give a damn! Peter, go get somebody, anybody!"

I averted my gaze from the body and glared at him.

"Now!"

He set off at high speed. I turned back to James, who was staring transfixed at the corpse.

"James.

"James!"

I slapped him.

"He's dead, Sirius."

"I know." I almost choked on these two words. I could not think of that, I would not allow myself to think of that. By Gryffindor, I had hated the Git but he hadn't deserved this!

'Breathe, stay calm. Think of a blank wall.' My mantra, I repeated it about twenty times until, suddenly, a certain calm settled over me. It did not come gradually, no, it arrived instantly like light turned on by means of a switch. My mind cleared at once but, really, I had no control over my movements or thoughts. Life happened but I wasn't participating; and still, in a way I was.

I leant over the corpse and looked at him closely (I knew better than to touch him). James joined me but I took no real notice.

Benzen's eyes were wide open, he must have seen his attacker coming. "But why hasn't he drawn his wand?" I wondered aloud.

"He has," James answered. "It's just that the attacker was faster. They must have cast Expelliarmus," here he stood up and gestured wildly. "Benzen flew backwards - that's why there's blood here," he pointed towards a dark black spot to our left.

Ah.

"He tried to reach the shovel to his right," I continued my friend's line of thought, "to defend himself! That's when the attacker finished him off with Avada Kedavra."

James nodded. Considering that there was no sign of any injuries - aside from the little pool of blood - it had to have been the Killing Curse.

Well, this explained the 'How'.

"But *who* did it?"

"This, I think, is for the Aurors to determine."

We turned around abruptly and beheld the Headmaster. It seemed he had stood there for quite a while. How much time had passed?

"They will be here anon. I trust you have not touched anything?"

I shook my head mutely and he nodded as if he hadn't thought we would have. I took a tiny bit of pride in this confidence.

Suddenly a dark shape entered the greenhouse, puffing heavily.

"Ah, Hagrid." Dumbledore greeted without turning. Hagrid, for this dark shape was indeed him, looked incredulous.

"'Ow'd ya-?" He started to ask but stopped; either because he figured out that no one really could mistake him, or because he, like everyone who had met our esteemed Headmaster, had come to the conclusion that the man could not be understood, or...

"Galloping Gargoyles, that's Professor Benzen!" Stating the obvious but I did not have the right to mock him for it. It was a shocking sight.

"Yes, these are his remains."

How could Dumbledore be so calm about it? Or maybe, like I, he functioned on auto pilot in times of great stress?

"Hagrid, if you would, please, stand guard outside the greenhouse? Do not let anyone in."

The Gamekeeper nodded vehemently.

"Yessir."

"Come along then, gentlemen."

The trek back to the castle took longer than expected. Questions were burning in the back of my mind but I dared not ask. Why? I do not know. I was confused. The calm, which I had felt before, had left and my thoughts were swirling like bees around a hive. I did not become aware of where we were headed until the Headmaster murmured the password into the direction of the stone gargoyle that watched over the entrance to his office.

Inside we were met by a frenzied Peter and a stoic McGonogall.

"Take a seat." Dumbledore ordered just as Madame Pomfrey burst in. This was unacceptable, she grumbled, she should have been informed earlier! The children needed to be examined; very likely, they were in shock!

Spoke and immediately commenced; performed a spell here, checked a pulse there; felt foreheads, looked at pupils, concluded that it was only a mild shock, ordered rest and quiet and tea, anyway; gave each of us a piece of chocolate, protested loudly, and eventually (after much persuasion on the Headmaster's part) departed.

Surely, I thought, we'd be allowed to leave as well now? But Dumbledore made no indication, offered us each a cuppa instead.

And so we drank tea and ate biscuits, made small talk and waited.

A long time later - twenty minutes if James' watch was telling the truth - there was a knock on the door: the Aurors, a squad of four.

Where the corpse was

- on the grounds.

(Two were sent away).

Who had found him

- these young gentlemen.

(Two pairs of eyebrows were raised).

The kids?

- yes.

(Scrutinising eyes lingered upon us).

They need be questioned immediately with the impression still fresh in their minds and unmarred by outside influence.

- indeed.

A nod and our fate concerning the following hours had been sealed.

It's something I absolutely loathe: decisions made above my head. I must have control over the situations I find myself in or, at least, be responsible for them myself; but the happenings of that night had been out of my hand.

One of the Aurors - the leader, I think, for he was the older one and looked the most experience judging by the scars that criss-crossed his face (that or he was one hell of an unlucky fellow) - insisted that we'd be questioned separately and in a secluded room.

We glanced at each other uncertainly. Before leaving the Gryffindor Tower we had decided on what to say in case we'd get caught, but at this point we had thought that we'd be questioned by a teacher, not an Auror.

Dumbledore (the man can read minds, I swear) took the decision out of our hands, again.

"I expect you to provide full co-operation, gentlemen. If you please?"

The Auror took his cue and James was led away to Merlin only knew where. McGonogall accompanied them and I took comfort in this since it in all probability meant that, while she would not be there for the actual interrogation, my Head of House would be close by.

I shook my head. We were not under suspicion. There was no need for fear!

Another cup was provided for the second Auror, who declined. He stood stiffly near the door and even refused to "take a pew", when asked to by Dumbledore.

The sparkle was back in his eyes.

We waited some more. Peter began to chew his fingernails and I only just resisted the urge to tap my foot.

My leg was twitching, though.

What could be taking so long? It wasn't as though there was so much to tell. I shifted in my seat. Somehow, I had the strange feeling that I was being watched. I leant forward in my chair to refill my cup - it was almost empty, anyhow - and spied the reflection of the Auror in the kettle. He was staring at me. I leant back and tried to sink deeper into the chair. The guy freaked me out. I prayed that James would hurry up.

Still it took another quarter of an hour for McGonagall to return and naturally, she beckoned towards Peter. I suppressed a groan. It figured. Pipsqueak was fast fortunately a bit faster, yet, it was way past midnight when eventually it was my turn.

As luck would have it, and I cursed it for this treachery, the second Auror came along this time. I wasn't nervous, though. No, I was quivering with fear and had to repeat it to myself that the only thing I had to be afraid of was getting a detention for being out after curfew and for planning to play a prank on the most hated teacher in the school. This feeling is irrational, I told myself, I have nothing to fear for Merlin's sake!

No - thing - to - fear!