I walk towards him, put a coffee pad in the machine and push the button. “See? It’s not that hard.” I grab the mug that’s now filled with coffee and give it to Sirius before I put another coffee pad in the machine. I turn around to see what Jack wrote on the whiteboard while the machine does its job. The words ‘fake bomb’ and ‘Silence will fall’ are written down under the timeline, with an arrow connecting the ‘Silence will fall’ sentence with the Silence incident that happened right before Christmas. “Their trying to create panic.” I say.
“Okay… Explain.” Jack leans back to the whiteboard.
I give Jack the hot beverage. “They placed a bomb that wouldn’t explode in a room from which the existence is only known by few. The Room showed it in every situation, no matter what the Room was like. I’d say the one who placed it wanted it to be found, otherwise the Room wouldn’t be able to show it in other situations.” Fred explained me how the Room really works when we walked back to the training center.
“That… is very well thought of you.” Jack turns back around and writes the words ‘create panic’ on the board.
“Do you also got a theory about ‘Silence will fall’?” Sirius asks.
“Uh, yeah. Well, sorta. That sentence refers to the incident that happened before this one. Just like the objects that were found at the earlier incidents. It doesn’t make really sense, though.”
“What do you mean?” Jack asks.
“It’s like the book page at the Angel incident. The Book was stolen after that. It was like a warning.”
“But the Silence have already been here.” Fred notices.
“Yeah, but what if that was a forerunner of what’s going to happen? I think the sentence ‘Silence will fall’ has two meanings. One, this incident is connected to the others. Two, there’s more to come. It’s possible that there will be another, more dangerous, incident including the Silence, though it’s also possible that ‘Silence’ refers to the last incident and ‘will fall’ refers to a next incident.”
The three men think about that for a while.
“That’s brilliant.” Sirius eventually says.
“She is brilliant.” Jack points out.
“Sometimes I just wonder how you’re able to figure things like this out.” Fred says.
“Yeah, sometimes I wonder about that too.” I answer. “So, Jack, you said you got some more information about the Book?”
“Yep. And once again, you were right. It’s full of information about all the teachers, about their backgrounds, their interests, their personal life. Everything. Some of them even have a criminal record.”
“Really? Which teachers?” Fred asks.
“Err… One of them would be me.” Sirius says.
“Not so surprising.” I say.
“Oi, you know what’s surprising? That you don’t have one yet.”
“Oh! I’m not that bad!”
“Well…” I send Jack a look.
“He also got one.” Sirius says.
“Also not so surprising.” Fred says.
“I don’t have a record.” Jack says indignant.
“Really?” I say, teasing Jack.
“Whatever I did before I start working here is none of your business.”
“What did you do before you started working here?” I ask. “I mean, I know you’re immortal and all, so you must have done something.”
“Ah, you know, traveled a lot, fought aliens, worked for this institute called Torchwood.” There’s something weird in the way Jack says this. Almost… Sad. “Anyway, we were talking about the Book. Except for the information about the teachers there are also maps of the school, with all the information you can imagine. Secret chambers, tunnels, weak spots.”
“Wow. I can’t believe I was right about that.”
“Yeah, you’re brain almost works like a criminal one.” Sirius smirks.
“Oh, can we please stop about that?”
Jack laughs. “He’s right. That’s what makes you so brilliant.”
“I’m brilliant because I have a criminal brain?”
“Err… Okay, let’s just forget that. Becky, Fred. I want you two to look around in school and try to find something that’s unusual, something that can help us. Look at the students and the teachers, how they behave, look around in classrooms if there’s something that doesn’t belong. I also want you to keep thinking about more theories.” I guess this means we’re finished for now.
“Alright.” Fred starts to walk away,
“Yes sir.” I answer Jack before I follow Fred.
“Don’t sir me.”
I turn back around. “Yes ma’am.”
I can hear Jack smirk as Fred and I walk upstairs.
“Okay… Explain.” Jack leans back to the whiteboard.
I give Jack the hot beverage. “They placed a bomb that wouldn’t explode in a room from which the existence is only known by few. The Room showed it in every situation, no matter what the Room was like. I’d say the one who placed it wanted it to be found, otherwise the Room wouldn’t be able to show it in other situations.” Fred explained me how the Room really works when we walked back to the training center.
“That… is very well thought of you.” Jack turns back around and writes the words ‘create panic’ on the board.
“Do you also got a theory about ‘Silence will fall’?” Sirius asks.
“Uh, yeah. Well, sorta. That sentence refers to the incident that happened before this one. Just like the objects that were found at the earlier incidents. It doesn’t make really sense, though.”
“What do you mean?” Jack asks.
“It’s like the book page at the Angel incident. The Book was stolen after that. It was like a warning.”
“But the Silence have already been here.” Fred notices.
“Yeah, but what if that was a forerunner of what’s going to happen? I think the sentence ‘Silence will fall’ has two meanings. One, this incident is connected to the others. Two, there’s more to come. It’s possible that there will be another, more dangerous, incident including the Silence, though it’s also possible that ‘Silence’ refers to the last incident and ‘will fall’ refers to a next incident.”
The three men think about that for a while.
“That’s brilliant.” Sirius eventually says.
“She is brilliant.” Jack points out.
“Sometimes I just wonder how you’re able to figure things like this out.” Fred says.
“Yeah, sometimes I wonder about that too.” I answer. “So, Jack, you said you got some more information about the Book?”
“Yep. And once again, you were right. It’s full of information about all the teachers, about their backgrounds, their interests, their personal life. Everything. Some of them even have a criminal record.”
“Really? Which teachers?” Fred asks.
“Err… One of them would be me.” Sirius says.
“Not so surprising.” I say.
“Oi, you know what’s surprising? That you don’t have one yet.”
“Oh! I’m not that bad!”
“Well…” I send Jack a look.
“He also got one.” Sirius says.
“Also not so surprising.” Fred says.
“I don’t have a record.” Jack says indignant.
“Really?” I say, teasing Jack.
“Whatever I did before I start working here is none of your business.”
“What did you do before you started working here?” I ask. “I mean, I know you’re immortal and all, so you must have done something.”
“Ah, you know, traveled a lot, fought aliens, worked for this institute called Torchwood.” There’s something weird in the way Jack says this. Almost… Sad. “Anyway, we were talking about the Book. Except for the information about the teachers there are also maps of the school, with all the information you can imagine. Secret chambers, tunnels, weak spots.”
“Wow. I can’t believe I was right about that.”
“Yeah, you’re brain almost works like a criminal one.” Sirius smirks.
“Oh, can we please stop about that?”
Jack laughs. “He’s right. That’s what makes you so brilliant.”
“I’m brilliant because I have a criminal brain?”
“Err… Okay, let’s just forget that. Becky, Fred. I want you two to look around in school and try to find something that’s unusual, something that can help us. Look at the students and the teachers, how they behave, look around in classrooms if there’s something that doesn’t belong. I also want you to keep thinking about more theories.” I guess this means we’re finished for now.
“Alright.” Fred starts to walk away,
“Yes sir.” I answer Jack before I follow Fred.
“Don’t sir me.”
I turn back around. “Yes ma’am.”
I can hear Jack smirk as Fred and I walk upstairs.
As it is already time for dinner, we walk to the atrium. Chantal, Lotte and George are already sitting at a table.
“Ola.” I say as I sit down.
“Hey. Where have the two of you been?” Chantal asks.
“Training center.” Fred answers, stealing some fries from his brother’s plate.
“Because of the bomb?” Lotte asks.
“What? How do you know about that?” That happened, like, one hour ago.
“The whole school already knows.” George says. “Don’t ask me how that’s possible, because I don’t know.”
“Yeah, suddenly people were talking about it and the news spread quickly.” Chantal says.
“Wow.” I say. “Maybe… Eh, no, never mind.”
“What were you going to say?” Lotte asks.
“Err… Well, I was thinking. Maybe the one who placed the bomb is the one who spread the rumor.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because that would cause big chaos. Students would panic. The whole school would shut down to be sure no-one would get hurt.”
“Seems legit.”
“Now, what are my favorite criminals planning to do this time?” I turn around and face the most annoying guy of school; Dudley
“Dudley, go away.” I try, even though I know it won’t work.
“No. So, a bomb, eh?”
“Yep, there was a bomb found. Now, leave. You still have a chance.”
“So I’ve heard.” Dudley says, ignoring the second part. “I’m sure you are the one who have put that bomb in school.”
“Why would we do that?” I try to stay calm. “We love it here.”
“Yeah, right. And I have to believe that. You’re bloody terrorists you are. Those aliens, the theft. I’m sure it all has to do with you.”
“I totally agree with Dudley.” Lindsey, one of the popular and very annoying girls, joins in, followed by one of her friends. “Who else would’ve done this than you freaks?”
Oh, I hate that girl. “Excuse me, how did you just call us?”
“Didn’t you hear the lady? That means you’re not only as stupid as you look, but also deaf.” Oh, wrong choice, Dudley, wrong choice.
“Dudley, just wondering, have you ever looked in a mirror?”
Looking at his face, that came out harsh. Good. “Oh, bite me.”
“Really? Bite you?”
“Yeah, that’s what I said. Bite me.” I grab Dudley’s arm and bit it. Hard. As I let go I can see a bite mark on his arm. “You bit me!”
“Oh my God. Did you just bit him? Did she just bite him?” Lindsey stares at the bite mark, still not believing her own eyes.
“You asked for it.” I say. “And you know what? You may be happy I didn’t punch you in the face.”
“You wouldn’t dare.” Dudley snarls.
“Really? Because I just dared to bite you. Daring to punch someone in the face is quite easy in comparison.” I hear Lotte, Chantal, Fred and George chuckle behind me. “Now, don’t accuse me or my friends ever again, or I will punch you in the face. Is that understood?” Dudley stumbles back and runs away as fast as he can, followed by his minions.
Lindsey and her friend still stand in front of me. “Freak.”
“Bitch.”
“Lunatic.”
“Whore.”
Lindsey, suppressing a “Oh no, you didn’t.”, seems to notice that she won’t be winning this, because she turns around with a displeased look on her face. “Come on, Claire, let’s go.”
“Now that was brilliant.” Fred says.
I turn around. “Does anyone of you has something to drink for me? I want that Dudley-taste out of my mouth.”
“Miss Van Leeuwen, I want to speak to you in my office. Now.” Once again I turn around, this time to face professor McGonagall. Oh crap. I follow the severe looking woman to her office at the -2nd floor. She closes the door and turns around. “I have heard you bit one of the students. Is this true?”
I don’t see the point in lying. “Yes, professor.”
“I see. Now, can you tell me what happened. Mr. Dursley told me he was just talking to you and your friends when you became aggressive, though I’m not quite sure if I have to believe that.”
I should’ve known. The big crybaby. “Mr. Dursley accused me and my friends for being responsible of the incidents that happened in the past months. He called me stupid and told me I could bite him. Of course, that was not meant as an invitation, but I took the chance to show him he is messing with the wrong person.”
Professor McGonagall’s face is hard to read, but I can see her eyes light up a bit, like she’s approving of my defense. “Now tell me, miss Van Leeuwen, what was the reason of Mr. Dursley’s accuse? Why this moment?”
“I was talking to my friends about the last incident, the bomb, and how quickly the rumor had spread. Mr. Dursley overheard us talking.”
“You and Mr. Dursley have had some more misunderstandings from the start, is that correct?”
“Yes, professor.”
“And from what I’ve heard from my colleagues it is mostly Mr. Dursley who start those so said fights, am I rightly informed?”
“Yes, professor.”
“Then I’d say you had a very decent reason for the incident with Mr. Dursley and that there is no reason for punishment. However, if I hear anything more about a misunderstanding between you and Mr. Dursley containing not just words, I will have to expel you for a little while. Is that understood?”
“Yes, professor.”
“Before you go, you said something about the last incident. What do you know about that? And I want to know everything. I figured you’re helping Mr. Harkness and professor Black with the investigation.”
“The bomb was found about 2 hours ago now, and the rumor was spread almost immediately.”
“Alright, and your theory?”
“The person who placed the bomb wanted it to be found. It is possible that he is also the one who started the rumor to create chaos.”
“I can hear Mr. Harkness trained you well. I allow you to go on, on condition that your grades are staying at a good level.”
“Thank you, professor. I’ll make sure my grades are top priority.”
“Very well. You can go now.”
“Thank you, professor.” I walk to the door.
“Oh, and miss Van Leeuwen, I already talked to Mr. Harkness. If it gets too dangerous, you’re off the case. Be careful.”
“Yes, professor. I will.”
“Ola.” I say as I sit down.
“Hey. Where have the two of you been?” Chantal asks.
“Training center.” Fred answers, stealing some fries from his brother’s plate.
“Because of the bomb?” Lotte asks.
“What? How do you know about that?” That happened, like, one hour ago.
“The whole school already knows.” George says. “Don’t ask me how that’s possible, because I don’t know.”
“Yeah, suddenly people were talking about it and the news spread quickly.” Chantal says.
“Wow.” I say. “Maybe… Eh, no, never mind.”
“What were you going to say?” Lotte asks.
“Err… Well, I was thinking. Maybe the one who placed the bomb is the one who spread the rumor.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because that would cause big chaos. Students would panic. The whole school would shut down to be sure no-one would get hurt.”
“Seems legit.”
“Now, what are my favorite criminals planning to do this time?” I turn around and face the most annoying guy of school; Dudley
“Dudley, go away.” I try, even though I know it won’t work.
“No. So, a bomb, eh?”
“Yep, there was a bomb found. Now, leave. You still have a chance.”
“So I’ve heard.” Dudley says, ignoring the second part. “I’m sure you are the one who have put that bomb in school.”
“Why would we do that?” I try to stay calm. “We love it here.”
“Yeah, right. And I have to believe that. You’re bloody terrorists you are. Those aliens, the theft. I’m sure it all has to do with you.”
“I totally agree with Dudley.” Lindsey, one of the popular and very annoying girls, joins in, followed by one of her friends. “Who else would’ve done this than you freaks?”
Oh, I hate that girl. “Excuse me, how did you just call us?”
“Didn’t you hear the lady? That means you’re not only as stupid as you look, but also deaf.” Oh, wrong choice, Dudley, wrong choice.
“Dudley, just wondering, have you ever looked in a mirror?”
Looking at his face, that came out harsh. Good. “Oh, bite me.”
“Really? Bite you?”
“Yeah, that’s what I said. Bite me.” I grab Dudley’s arm and bit it. Hard. As I let go I can see a bite mark on his arm. “You bit me!”
“Oh my God. Did you just bit him? Did she just bite him?” Lindsey stares at the bite mark, still not believing her own eyes.
“You asked for it.” I say. “And you know what? You may be happy I didn’t punch you in the face.”
“You wouldn’t dare.” Dudley snarls.
“Really? Because I just dared to bite you. Daring to punch someone in the face is quite easy in comparison.” I hear Lotte, Chantal, Fred and George chuckle behind me. “Now, don’t accuse me or my friends ever again, or I will punch you in the face. Is that understood?” Dudley stumbles back and runs away as fast as he can, followed by his minions.
Lindsey and her friend still stand in front of me. “Freak.”
“Bitch.”
“Lunatic.”
“Whore.”
Lindsey, suppressing a “Oh no, you didn’t.”, seems to notice that she won’t be winning this, because she turns around with a displeased look on her face. “Come on, Claire, let’s go.”
“Now that was brilliant.” Fred says.
I turn around. “Does anyone of you has something to drink for me? I want that Dudley-taste out of my mouth.”
“Miss Van Leeuwen, I want to speak to you in my office. Now.” Once again I turn around, this time to face professor McGonagall. Oh crap. I follow the severe looking woman to her office at the -2nd floor. She closes the door and turns around. “I have heard you bit one of the students. Is this true?”
I don’t see the point in lying. “Yes, professor.”
“I see. Now, can you tell me what happened. Mr. Dursley told me he was just talking to you and your friends when you became aggressive, though I’m not quite sure if I have to believe that.”
I should’ve known. The big crybaby. “Mr. Dursley accused me and my friends for being responsible of the incidents that happened in the past months. He called me stupid and told me I could bite him. Of course, that was not meant as an invitation, but I took the chance to show him he is messing with the wrong person.”
Professor McGonagall’s face is hard to read, but I can see her eyes light up a bit, like she’s approving of my defense. “Now tell me, miss Van Leeuwen, what was the reason of Mr. Dursley’s accuse? Why this moment?”
“I was talking to my friends about the last incident, the bomb, and how quickly the rumor had spread. Mr. Dursley overheard us talking.”
“You and Mr. Dursley have had some more misunderstandings from the start, is that correct?”
“Yes, professor.”
“And from what I’ve heard from my colleagues it is mostly Mr. Dursley who start those so said fights, am I rightly informed?”
“Yes, professor.”
“Then I’d say you had a very decent reason for the incident with Mr. Dursley and that there is no reason for punishment. However, if I hear anything more about a misunderstanding between you and Mr. Dursley containing not just words, I will have to expel you for a little while. Is that understood?”
“Yes, professor.”
“Before you go, you said something about the last incident. What do you know about that? And I want to know everything. I figured you’re helping Mr. Harkness and professor Black with the investigation.”
“The bomb was found about 2 hours ago now, and the rumor was spread almost immediately.”
“Alright, and your theory?”
“The person who placed the bomb wanted it to be found. It is possible that he is also the one who started the rumor to create chaos.”
“I can hear Mr. Harkness trained you well. I allow you to go on, on condition that your grades are staying at a good level.”
“Thank you, professor. I’ll make sure my grades are top priority.”
“Very well. You can go now.”
“Thank you, professor.” I walk to the door.
“Oh, and miss Van Leeuwen, I already talked to Mr. Harkness. If it gets too dangerous, you’re off the case. Be careful.”
“Yes, professor. I will.”
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